The Role of Societal Change Toward Adolescent Suicide in Japan: Phenomenological Analysis on 12 Suicidal Teens Film by Yukihiko Tsutsumi
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IZUMI, Volume 10 No 1, 2021, [Page | 171] e-ISSN: 2502-3535, p-ISSN: 2338-249X Available online at: http://ejournal.undip.ac.id/index.php/izumi Research Article The Role of Societal Change toward Adolescent Suicide in Japan: Phenomenological Analysis on 12 Suicidal Teens Film by Yukihiko Tsutsumi Salma Nabila a*, Susy Ong b a,b Japan Area Studies, University of Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia *Email: [email protected] Received: April 20th, 2021; Revised: May 27th, 2021; Accepted: May 28th, 2021 Available online: May 29th, 2021; Published regularly: June 2021 Abstract Suicide cases are still a big challenge for Japan, even though in the 21st century, the government began to pay attention to and follow up on this phenomenon. While Japan's suicide rate among adults is declining, the rate in minors increased, and suicide is the highest cause of death for those under 20. This research reveals the problems and factors around suicidal teens in Japan through twelve character's stories in 12 Suicidal Teens Film. To understand this film, what meaning that brought to discussion requires interpretation. Paul Ricoeur said that text or work is a dialogue to reveal the dimensions of reality in the phenomenological approach. The suicide motives expressed by 12 teenagers in the film 12 Suicidal Teens could be common. However, there are several factors such as religion, culture, social, even economic trends that could influence teenagers to commit suicide. The result shows that the social changes in Japan put pressure not only on adults but also on the lives of the youth. Also, information that is increasingly easy to obtain by anyone can become a boomerang for society because people can learn from what this information says.. Keywords: Suicide in Japan; Adolescent Suicide; Societal Change How to cite (APA): Nabila, S., & Ong, S. (2021). The Role of Societal Change toward Adolescent Suicide in Japan: Phenomenological Analysis on 12 Suicidal Teens Film by Yukihiko Tsutsumi. IZUMI, 10(1), 171-183. https://doi.org/10.14710/izumi.10.1.171-183 Permalink/DOI: https://doi.org/10.14710/izumi.10.1.171-183 1. Introduction There is also called love suicide or Suicide has been a part of popular culture in double suicide or shinjū, made famous by Japan. Several films portrayed suicide as a the playwright Chikamatsu Monzaemon. heroic act which was inspired by the Love suicide narrates the story of lovers Kamikaze military story in Hotaru (Firefly) who die together either voluntarily or in 2001, For Those We Love (2007), and unilaterally. Through the kabuki theatre of The Eternal Zero (2013). Another heroic The Love Suicide at Sonezaki and The Love story is the story of 47 ronin who took Suicide at Amijima, the act of suicide is revenge for the death of their master and shown as the end of the love story that took seppuku action after protesting finally reached even though the character against the government. The act commits an affair first. The characters of seppuku itself is seen as an honourable featured in the drama Chikamatsu suicide in Japan (Suratno, 2017). Monzaemon also came from the lower classes, not heroes and heroines like in Copyright@2021, IZUMI, e-ISSN: 2502-3535, p-ISSN: 2338-249x IZUMI, Volume 10 No 1, 2021, [Page | 172] e-ISSN: 2502-3535, p-ISSN: 2338-249X Available online at: http://ejournal.undip.ac.id/index.php/izumi Romeo and Juliet. Love suicide is a part of which is said to be an epidemic. the protagonists' tragic and dramatic story Nonetheless, suicide cases are still a big that Chikamatsu can become heroes challenge for Japan. While the rates among (Shimazaki, 2020; Sowa, 2013). It shows middle-aged men and the elderly are that self-sacrifice and self-destruction declining, suicide cases among young suicide has also become a social people are still considered high (World phenomenon even through popular cultures. Health Organization, 2015). Here, the Those suicides are presented as heroic, dilemma regarding suicide is challenged aesthetic, and romantic stories. since the act has already spread among the Suicide in Japan is part of the heroes' young Japanese generation and becomes a story and their loyalty to the lord or country difficult task for society soon. that has been justified politically and According to the Japan Ministry of culturally. The sanction of voluntary death Health, Labor, and Welfare, in 2020, in the form of harakiri or seppuku was Japan's suicide rate, in general, continues to strengthened by the legalisation of the fall for ten consecutive years until 2019. Tokugawa regime in power in the Edo Still, the suicide rate in minors increased ten period (1603 AD-1868 AD). Here, suicide per cent, and suicide is the highest cause of was a punishment aimed at the samurai to death for those under 20 (nippon.com, save them from shame for the actions or 2020). In 2019, Yukihiko Tsutsumi mistakes. That is, seppuku was associated responded to the teenage's high rate of with the honour of the ruling class and suicide by releasing 12 Suicidal Teen film, feudal elite of Japan. Even during World based on the novel with the same title by War II, self-sacrificed suicide for the Tow Ubukata in 2016. The teenage country's sake was instilled in the military. characters in these 12 Suicidal Teens each Self-sacrificed and self-destruction suicide have characters representing the Japanese is then understandable for specific reasons teenagers' conditions with social pressures and considered as an action that upholding that befall them through their motives of morals. However, when someone commits committing suicide together. suicide, family members often do cover-up In previous research, Suratno (2017) to fear being caught and viewed as explained one of Japan's popular stories of shameful. This feeling of shame shows that 47 Ronin made into a film version in 2013 Japanese society realises that suicide is a through intrinsic analysis. He discovered deviant act (Lebra, 1976:190-191). that as the film's protagonists, the ronin In the early 21st century, the Japanese have dedication and loyalty to their former government began to pay attention to and master. Ronin's death illustrated a self- follow up on this phenomenon by honour and heavy responsibility that most establishing a Suicide Prevention Council people would find difficult to understand in by the Ministry of Health, Labor, and normal conditions. Another research by Welfare in three phases until 2006 Picone (2012) describes suicide narrated in (Takeshima et al., 2015). Japanese society Japanese horror films related to popular still saw that suicide is taboo to be discussed religion in Japan. He discovered that the in public. Behind the patriotic impression ghost of the suicide victim that appears in displayed in popular culture, people view the world is not a punishment over a sin or suicide as an act of selfishness and are a consequence of religious prohibition but a afraid to talk about it. The suicide continuation of "protest suicide." The ghost prevention efforts by the government in would reveal the case that caused him/her to collaboration with various non-profit suffer while still alive until they took his/her organisations are Japanese concrete steps in own life. following up the phenomenon of suicide, Copyright@2021, IZUMI, e-ISSN: 2502-3535, p-ISSN: 2338-249x IZUMI, Volume 10 No 1, 2021, [Page | 173] e-ISSN: 2502-3535, p-ISSN: 2338-249X Available online at: http://ejournal.undip.ac.id/index.php/izumi Both the studies show that culture and Teens, directed by Yukihiko Tsutsumi and religion have influenced the justification of released on Nippon TV on January 25, suicide in Japan. Meanwhile, this research 2019. The primary data is the conversations uses the film 12 Suicidal Teens that narrates of characters in the 12 Suicidal Teens film, suicide as a concern and must be prevented revealing their motives and goals to commit soon, particularly when suicidal acts begin suicide. The supporting data relevant to to spread among youth. The 12 characters in Japanese teen suicide cases are obtained this film also reveal their suicide motives through books, news articles, journals, and before they decide to commit suicide. It is webpages. different from the narratives found by To understand this film, what Picone (2012) that the suicide victim would meaning that brought to discussion requires settle the suicide case after his/her death. interpretation. Paul Ricoeur said that text or Suppose previous suicide together work is a dialogue to reveal the dimensions appeared as a romantic tragedy as Sowa of reality in the phenomenological (2013) found in double suicide stories. In approach. It can be seen as an independent that case, it raises public concerns because world or has autonomy, then the audiences of the increasingly widespread method used would see or read it at a “distance”. by the younger generation. With the However, a completely objective study kills increasing popularity of internet suicide the text or work itself. Therefore, pacts, (Ozawa-De Silva, 2010) mentioned appropriation is needed, namely that the casual nature of internet group understanding the text or work by bringing suicide has been challenging to explain. The it into the world of the subject (the wish to die easily and comfortably with interpreter) to be familiar (Philip & Waugh, other people and the wish to disappear 1996, pp. 90-92). puzzled Japanese media and popular As an independent object, the accounts at the beginning of the 21st characters' conversations in the film 12 century. Suicidal Teens are explored to determine This research reveals the social the motives of the teenagers' suicidality. problems and factors around suicidal teens Then, appropriation of meaning is carried in Japan through twelve character's stories out by correlating teenage suicide with in 12 Suicidal Teens.