• About me

Grimescene

~ Writing that is dirt cheap.

Grimescene

Tag Archives: Japanese Suicides

Seppuku

17 Friday Oct 2008

Posted by damnhobsons in Personal, spirituality

≈ 6 Comments

Tags

Japanese Suicides

What drives a person to end his or her own life?

On BBC “Reporters” last night – I was watching a special report on what has become Japan’s favorite pastime after Sumo-wrestling and Sashimi. Seppuku (Ritual Suicide). I sat there on my sofa with a spoonful of food stuck midway between the plate and my mouth, in shock, as I heard that one in five Japanese adults have seriously considered ending their lives. Ninety of them end up doing it every day. Last year there were more than 35000 suicides in Japan – the highest by far in the developed world.

Though there are many sociological theories on why a seemingly prosperous population is so prone to suicide – the fact of the matter is that ending ones life is an acceptable act in Japanese society. This is a society that hold’s honor above all else. This is a society that does not forgive a person’s failure – whether or not that person was responsible for that failure. But that does not justify seppuku. I suspect there is a deeper social malaise at play. The same kind that has driven up suicide rates in Scandinavian countries – no opportunity or will to struggle and fight. Comfort, processes and societal conformity are given so much importance – that the concept of struggling for something, or dreaming about something is more-or-less alien for these people.

How long do you think a lion cub will live if it is fed all his life – and does not have to hunt for food? There is a reason why animals which have spent a long time in captivity have listless eyes. Young people in economically developed nations such as Japan – find themselves without self-direction and hence without an identity. Without a self-purpose, without opportunities for self-actualization – where does one find a masthead to hold on to, during tough times? It is clear that the battles in life which matter are the ones you fight inside your head… not the ones you fight outside.

I am not suggesting that everyone must be made to struggle and that our poor farmers in Vidharba have it good… What I am suggesting is that competition is healthy for a society – as it is for a market. As an Indian I know and recognize the value of always being on the top of my game. I know that I will be a better person – because I have to fight 10000 others to secure my seat in college. It gives me self confidence – and a base of self-purpose and self-fulfillment that carries me through tough times.

We all have felt desperate or devastated at some point in our lives. Atleast I know I have. But every such episode strengthened me. I always realized that I was bigger and stronger than the situation. No matter what happens externally, or no matter who does what to me – nothing can touch my soul – because that is mine.

I realize that the sun rises every morning for me to see and bask in. I realize that no matter how small, my contribution, my sweat adds to the salt of the earth. My being alive is necessary for the world to go round. And when my journey ends – it will be because I would have paid my dues and imparted my contribution to the world, and to society. If you are Japanese (or anyone contemplating ending it all) and you are reading this – think about it. You are here – as I am – for a reason. It is ok if you do not know what that reason is – that’s why you undertake this journey called life. It will always be worth it, in the end.

Quit Seppuku…go have a Sake! Cheers!

Topics of Discussion

  • Books (2)
  • Cars (2)
  • Featured (1)
  • Food (1)
  • General (29)
  • How-to's (1)
  • Humor (20)
  • Leadership (1)
  • Love (10)
  • Lyrics (3)
  • Management (3)
  • marketing (3)
  • Movies (27)
  • Mumbai (18)
  • Music (14)
  • Music Videos (1)
  • My Fiction (9)
  • Nonsense (2)
  • Parent Talk (5)
  • Personal (30)
  • Photography (5)
  • Photos (4)
  • poetry (4)
  • politics (11)
  • Reviews (40)
  • spirituality (8)
  • Technology (22)
  • Theater (1)
  • travel (10)
  • TV (1)
  • Uncategorized (4)

The History Channel

  • October 2011 (1)
  • August 2011 (1)
  • June 2011 (6)
  • May 2011 (1)
  • August 2010 (2)
  • July 2010 (6)
  • June 2010 (1)
  • May 2010 (4)
  • March 2010 (3)
  • January 2010 (3)
  • December 2009 (1)
  • November 2009 (3)
  • October 2009 (3)
  • September 2009 (2)
  • July 2009 (2)
  • June 2009 (3)
  • May 2009 (2)
  • April 2009 (1)
  • March 2009 (6)
  • February 2009 (2)
  • January 2009 (4)
  • December 2008 (9)
  • November 2008 (10)
  • October 2008 (11)
  • September 2008 (7)
  • August 2008 (12)
  • July 2008 (9)
  • June 2008 (8)
  • February 2008 (4)
  • January 2008 (5)
  • December 2007 (3)
  • November 2007 (6)
  • October 2007 (2)
  • August 2007 (4)
  • July 2007 (4)
  • June 2007 (15)
  • May 2007 (2)

My Flickr Gallery

The city that really never sleepsEmber MugLA SprawlA dozen bladesCarp DiemStrandCenter BurstDream of EdenRed Pause
More Photos

Find your poison

America Anderson Cooper Apple Appraisal beijing Bihar Body of Lies Chrome cloud computing Dhruv diwali Floods Food G Gold Google Goonj Gourmet Hillary Humor India insecurity IPhone Japanese Suicides Kosi Leadership Life Limerick Lindsay Lohan Love Management Manhattan McCain Microsoft Movie Movie Review Mumbai Mumbai Attacks Music Review New York Nonsense Obama Obama wins olympics Olympus E-520 Paris Hilton Personal Photography Photos poetry Poets of the Fall politics Poll Presidential Campaign Pune Restaurant Review Review Ridley Scott Road Rage Running Mate Satire spirituality Stone Water Grill Technology Terrorism travel Tsunami U.S. Election U.S. Elections unstructure Vice President Videos Web Browser World Cup WWDC

Blog at WordPress.com.

Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy