By Esteban Lopez
I can’t help but to think that there’s a connection between the intense summer heat and the mounting suicides on the Chuoh Line, aside from the wealth of information that would lead you to believe otherwise.
Police data for 2007 showed that 30,000 people committed suicide in Japan; topping the 30,000 mark for the 10th straight year. Placing Japan ninth in the world, and second, to the eight nations. Following close behind was Russia. Suicide rates in Japan usually increase when unemployment rises, but dwindle during economic growth. They also surge during March which coincides with university entrance exams and the main job-hunting season.
Likewise, the Industrial Health reports of TLV (Threshold Limit Values) which basically translate into protecting workers from the severest effects of thermal stress (mainly heat stroke in the work environment). Which could explain the logic behind Cool Biz (it’s a pretty awful sight, when your co-workers start dropping like flies from acute heat stroke). It goes on to say that the acute heat strokes that occurred in Japan last year, were from working outdoors in environments such as industrial construction sites and agriculture. Using a WBGT (Wet Bulb Globe Temperature) which is a composite temperature, scientists can estimate the effects of temperature, humidity and solar radiation on humans. WBGT’s, mostly used by athletes and the military, indicate the heat category and include guidelines for water intake, and physical activity for acclimated and unacclimatized individuals.
With that said, Japan has experienced it’s longest run of economic growth since the Second World War, but the suicide rate has continued to climb and the largest numbers of suicides that occurred in 2007 were in Tokyo at 3,000, followed by Saitama at 2,000. Likewise, the WBGT is mainly set for hot environments like working in mines, factories, and military facilities and not, offices. Which would explain why my Japanese co-workers keeping upping the air conditioner to 28 degrees Celsius, shouting “Cool Biz!, Cool Biz!” without bothering to crack a window.
Aside, from how honorable it has been to commit suicide in Japan, as did writer, Yukio Mishima when he led a revolt urging the army to overthrow the government, and then committing hara kiri in front of an audience of 800, or even the popular selling Wataru Tsurumi book, The Complete Manual of Suicide, I still hold to my conviction that this unbearable heat is pushing people over the edge. For two straight days, I run down the steps to the train platform, only to be greeted by blank timetables, and a mob of people standing around, looking dumbfounded. Exasperated, I curse aloud “This is so lame!” The facts don’t matter to a suicidee, when he makes me late to work, and forces me to ride in a tightly packed train with profusely sweaty men who likewise don’t give a damn about TLV’s, WBGT’s or that Japan ranks ninth in the world in suicides, they could care less.
