[Buddha-l] updates and correctionsto"upayaexpress"(topic:Buddhism in contemporary Japan)

[Dan Lusthaus]

> However, do some folks kill themselves because they are
> terminally ill [...]  How many of those suiciding are in stages of
> terminal illnesses, for example, or are suffering from serious
> mental illness? Other reasons?
> JK

Another huge, huge topic, Joanna. At the risk of (again) saying something 
simplistic that requires much more detailed and nuanced discussion, just a 
few basic points:

1. There are many "reasons" for suicide, and some small fraction may be 
viewing it as an alternative to a hospice movement, but that would be a tiny 
minority.

2. At the risk of stereotyping again, Japanese culture is deeply steeped in 
suicidal tendencies and approval. I say that not to cast aspersions, but 
because anyone who is not Japanese who has witnessed Japanese reactions to a 
variety of things invariably is surprised and shocked at how quickly 
Japanese presume the *proper* response to a certain problem or indiscretion 
is suicide. For instance, when OJ took the ride in the white bronco, 
Japanese almost universally were wondering Why doesn't he just commit 
suicide? That's what he *should* do.

3. Japanese culture has romanticized suicide in many ways (Zen has some 
complicity in that department). There are spots (e.g., certain trails on Mt. 
Fuji) that are famous for couples to go out on and never return (Oh! how 
romantic!).

4. A disturbing trend over the last couple decades has been teenage and 20 
something suicides and suicide packs. There are alienated youths who live in 
their parents' homes, spend all their time online and electronically 
connected, while having no human flesh-and-blood-contact-friends. 
Increasingly alienated and isolated, they make a pact with e-buddies of both 
genres to meet (for the first time) somewhere and all commit suicide 
together. This has been an increasing phenomenon.

5. Whereas Americans, .e.g., tend to believe "if at first you don't 
succeed...", or blame their failures (angrily) on others, Japanese tend to 
feel there is never a second chance, and the only way to atone for one's 
failure is to apologize by taking one's life.

6. Anyone who has monitored Japanese films and lit. in the last two decades 
knows that a strong nihilistic streak (often as a melancholy embrace of 
meaninglessness, films ending in meaningless violent anarchy, etc.). It says 
something about the mainstream culture and its hold on purposiveness.

7. The dramatic increase in suicides since the 90s is usually attributed to 
economic factors -- people losing their jobs, have no future prospects, 
debt, etc. The average Japanese suicide is 20-45, not suffering a terminal 
illness, with a family, feeling s/he lacks necessary support.

8. Suicide in Japan is often a public act, not something done in private 
with Dr Karvorkian (jumping in front of subways, e.g., which knocks the 
trains off schedule for a minute or two. This became so frequent, and it is 
such a disturbance to the Japanese psyche addicted to absolute punctuality, 
that some train stations are poised to hand out "excuse notes" to people 
who's trains had been delayed for a few minutes, that they could take to 
work to show their boss to excuse their slight tardiness. You grab the note 
on the way off the platform. If one is riding a train delayed in that 
manner, the train will stop between stations, and an announcement saying: 
"We apologize, but due to human error/accident, the train will be delayed a 
few minutes. We deeply apologize." Everyone on the train knows what that 
means.)

Those are some of the factors frequently mentioned. The cultural acceptance 
of suicide, and the tacit encouragement to pursue that as a legitimate 
option are huge factors in my opinion.

Dan