Suicide Epidemic in JapanUSA Today <a href=' http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2008-07-20-japan-suicides_N.htm '>reported</a> that "a suicide fad is sweeping Japan." Last year nearly 34,000 Japanese <a href='http://www.swivel.com/graphs/show/28850168'>men and women</a> committed suicide. The country's suicide rate is ninth highest <a href='http://www.swivel.com/graphs/show/28850352'>in the world</a> and nearly double the <a href='http://www.swivel.com/graphs/show/21625960'>rate of the US.</a> The article points to weak economic growth and a high <a href='http://www.swivel.com/data_sets/show/1004956'>rate of unemployment</a> as one reason for the self-inflicted deaths. This graph shows the <b><font color='#00426C'>suicide rates</font> and <font color='#4C8728'>long-term unemployment rates</font> in Japan</b>. Among Japanese suicides, nearly 71 percent are men, more than 73 percent are over the age of 40, and more than 57 percent are jobless.joblaborlong-termunemploymentworkforce854140.0Mon, 21 Jul 2008 13:26:40 -0700Wed, 30 Jul 2008 10:38:13 -0700NatalieLineGraphdefaultJapanSuicide Rate (Total)