Suicide rate in Japan 2012-2021, by gender

Men in Japan are more likely to commit suicide than women. With 22.9 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants, the number of fatalities among men reached almost 14 thousand in 2021. Self-inflicted death numbers are significantly lower among women in Japan, yet the female suicide rate increased by 0.2 percentage points compared to the previous year, equaling 7,068 suicide cases. The upwards trend in suicides among women is likely to be connected to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

 Why is suicide more prevalent among men in Japan? 

Historically, Japan’s high suicide rates are closely linked to the economic situation of the individuals. The majority of suicides in Japan stemmed from health reasons, however, existential worries and problems directly related to work accounted for over 5,000 self-inflicted deaths.
Gender-based roles are still relevant in modern-day Japan, with women predominantly taking care of family and housekeeping, and men financially providing for their families. Despite changes on the perception of gender roles in recent years, economic pressure seems to be more prevalent among men in Japan. Failure in fulfilling social expectations might lead to a higher risk of suffering from mental health issues, which can lead to suicidal thoughts.

 How does economic pressure affect suicide rates?

Over the past decade, the most profound issue faced by employees in Japan leading to self-harm was exhaustion. An increasing pressure of retaining jobs by putting in more hours of overtime, while taking fewer holidays and sick days are seen as the main motivators behind the rising suicide numbers among office workers and employees. Occupational sudden mortality, known as karoshi ("death by overwork") is a well-known phenomenon in Japanese society. Besides physical pressure, mental stress from the workplace can cause karoshi. Suicide due to occupational stress or overwork is called karojisatsu ("overwork suicide") in Japan.