Reportedly, the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry has decided to address suicide, which has becomes something of an epidemic over the past decade as the economy continues its skid into the void.
At present, there is no specific government policy regarding suicides. The National Police Agency is in charge of investigating them and compiling statistics, but there's nothing in the agency's job description about preventing them.
Taking one's own life has always been considered a personal matter, and therefore something the authorities feel they can't do anything about. For years, psychologists and social activists have urged the government to become involved in suicide prevention measures. The fact that suicides have numbered more than 30,000 a year for five years straight has obviously convinced the health ministry that it is now a social problem.
With your current subscription plan you can comment on stories. However, before writing your first comment, please create a display name in the Profile section of your subscriber account page.