Student suicides hit record high in 2006 By News Desk
Publisher:The Daily Yomiuri - Publication Date: 08-06-2007 A total of 886 Japanese students and pupils committed suicide last year, the highest figure since such records were first compiled in 1978, according to statistics released Thursday (June 7) by the National Police Agency.
However, the overall number of suicides came to 32,155, down 397 from the previous year, but topping the 30,000 mark for the ninth straight year.
The number of suicides by those 19 or younger climbed by 2.5 per cent to 623, including 14 primary school students, an increase of seven over the previous year, 81 middle school students (up 15) and 220 high school students (up five).
An increase in suicides was recorded in the age brackets of 60 or older and 19 or younger.
Financial difficulties decreased as a motive for suicide, reflecting the economic recovery, but health problems and work- and school-related issues were increasingly cited as motives for people taking their lives.
A breakdown by sex of 32,155 suicides showed 22,813 were committed by males, down 3.1 percent from the previous year, and 9,342 by females, up 3.7 per cent.
By age, those 60 or older accounted for the biggest proportion, 11,120, up 2.1 per cent over the previous year, followed by the 50-59 age bracket, at 7,246, down 4.5 per cent, and the 40-49 bracket, at 5,008, down 3.8 per cent.
Of the 10,466 people who left suicide notes, 4,341 (up 4.7 per cent from the previous year) cited health problems as their motives for suicides. Those who cited family, work- and school-related issues amounted to 1,041 (up 3.2 per cent), 709 (up 8.4 per cent) and 91 (up 28.2 per cent), respectively, each being the highest figure since 1998 for which comparable statistics are available.
Given the sharp increase in school-related issues as motives for suicides, the NPA has listed "bullying" as an additional motive.

This is fucked up! I heard about suicides in Japan going back years but to think it still goes on is bewildering. Just the stress and pressure must be really be getting to these kids. That's what happens when you're into a society and culture where anything but number one is a failure. I think alot of parents look for results oriented benchmark as being achievement of success but socio-cultural aspects get lost in the play. Now it's catching up to them.