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Student suicides in Japan hit all-time high (www.japantimes.co.jp)

submitted 3 days ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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“The number of suicides among elementary, junior high and high school students has reached 529, the highest since the statistics began,” said Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi at a news conference Friday. “This is an extremely alarming situation, and we take it very seriously.”

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[–] [email protected] 5 points 3 days ago

I don't think that's how I would put it, the not Japanese enough, nor put self harm in a positive light...

Anyway, examples:

High stakes testing throughout schooling. A lot of your path is decided before you can reasonably be expected to be responsible for it. The first minute of this is a bit more poetic about it https://youtu.be/P07rqHQ35hU

Work culture. There's a word in Japanese that means death from overwork. Bosses can be really shitty. Leaving a job is a big deal. (This could be too much for a kid because this shitty life is what they're working so hard toward)

Bullying and conformity. The nail that sticks out gets hammered down. Individual expression is becoming easier, but it's still pretty difficult, especially at school and work.

Loneliness. There's a concept of the true self vs the public self. It's more difficult to connect when you're always masking.