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Talking About Japan
In English  20 Japanese Birth & Death  |
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Japan birthrates are at an all time low... |
...one of the lowest in the world. |
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| Suicide also rises in land of rising sun By J Sean Curtin Japan has been stricken by an epidemic of suicides cutting across all social strata and age groups, according to recently released statistics for 2003. Every day nearly 100 people take their own lives, at a rate of almost one every 15 minutes. And the long economic slump is a factor. Despite recent signs of economic recovery, the good news hasn't yet touched the lives of those who leap off buildings, hurl themselves in front of trains, apparently in droves, or hang themselves... more of this article |
Suicides are at an all time high in Japan, over 30,000 per year, almost double per-capita America.
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| Life expectancy in Japan has always been good, with many centenarians living longer and longer. Japan Number One in New ‘Healthy Life’ System Japanese have the longest healthy life expectancy of 74.5 years among 191 countries, versus less than 26 years for the lowest-ranking country of Sierra Leone, based on a new way to calculate healthy life expectancy developed by the World Health Organization (WHO). more of this article |
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What does all this mean for the economy?
"...Of the 191 countries ranked by WHO, Japan has the highest healthy life expectancy (ie, 74.5 years). The remainder of the top 10 are Australia, 73.2 years; France, 73.1 years; Sweden, 73.0 year; Spain, 72.8 years; Italy, 72.7 years; Greece, 72.5 years; Switzerland, 72.5 years; Monaco, 72.4 years; and Andorra, 72.3 years..." more of this article Articles on Japan's Longevity The granny state - Japan's life expectancy boom Life expectancy to soar Suicides and life expectancy in Japan |
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| How does this effect your family life? | "...Factors such as a low rate of heart disease associated with a traditional low fat diet and relatively low smoking rates contribute to Japan's ranking. Scientists at WHO, however, note that the Japanese national diet is changing as red meat becomes more common, and lung cancer rates are expected to increase as the long-term effects of post-World War II smoking popularity begin to hit." |
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How will it influence your planning for the future?
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| What do you feel about having children? |
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When is it best to start a family?
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| In many Japanese homes there is a family shrine dedicated to deceased ancestors, how do you feel about these customs? |
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| Recent child murders in Japan has people asking, "do we Japanese truly respect life?" Do you feel there is something lacking in our value of life here in Japan? |
