Tokyo takes on suicides

– Japan aims to cut suicides by 30% over 10 years, with the government yesterday approving a plan which seeks to curb extreme work hours seen as contributing to one of the world’s highest suicide rates.

Japan has the highest suicide rate among the Group of Seven and government says the situation is “critical” in a country where more than 20 000 people kill themselves every year. The government wants to reduce it below 13 000 in 2025. The plan states that the government will push further for measures against work-related suicides, saying cutting extreme work hours and preventing harassment are necessary.

Tokyo is ramping up efforts to tackle deaths from overwork after the suicide of a young employee at Japan’s biggest advertising agency, Dentsu, who regularly logged more than 100 hours of overtime a month. –

Tokyo