The Role of Societal Change Toward Adolescent Suicide in Japan: Phenomenological Analysis on 12 Suicidal Teens Film by Yukihiko Tsutsumi

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

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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,

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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. External factors such societal conditions in Japan. Therefore, the as the environment they live in or the analysis results are descriptive, explaining internal factors they could not discuss the correlation between the storytelling of challenge society's suicide phenomenon the 12 Suicidal Teens film with the societal happens in adolescents. Even though conditions that influence the taking of suicide seems to be normal in Japan, there is extreme suicides among teenagers in Japan. a changing view about suicide through the 12 Suicidal Teens film. The government's 3. Result and Discussion efforts to pressure the suicide rate since the Suicide is one of the leading causes of beginning of the 21st century, as Takeshima Japanese child and adolescent mortality et al. (2015) mentioned, and how this film besides unintentional injury such as tries to depict the other side of the suicide transport accidents, drowning, and story should increase awareness about suffocation (Shinsugi, Stickley, Konishi, suicide prevention society. Ng, & Watanabe, 2015). Individuals with suicidal ideation are also less likely to 2. Methods consult with others and are less likely to use This study uses a qualitative design to find the crisis hotline. Psychological barriers are problems and factors in suicide among believed to cause individuals with a high teenagers in Japan in the film 12 Suicidal risk for suicide not to use a support hotline

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(Ohtaki et al., 2017). In most cases, people particularly high. Mental disorders and do not report when mental health-related despair were also relatively high, while symptoms appear. It could be due to the bullying and despair caused by illness community's stigma against this issue. "Pull remained low (nippon.com, 2019). yourself together" is a stereotype that often Based on the data and research above, seems when people experience depression the results vary regarding which motives are (Wood, Birtel, Alsawy, Pyle, & Morrison, more likely to influence adolescents to 2014). Thus, people with suicidal behaviour commit suicide. However, psychological are hard to detect due to a lack of clear signs conditions, family, and school life or communication about their difficulties. influenced suicidal behaviour in Hawton and James (2005) found the adolescents the most. In the 12 Suicidal common characteristic of adolescents who Teens film, these motives are also seen to die by suicide. They are adolescents with have influenced the teenage characters broken homes (separation, divorce, or death significantly. Furthermore, other reasons of parents), family psychiatric disorder or such as the internet, media, changes in the suicidal behaviour, psychiatric disorder or social structure, and family's financial behavioural disturbance, substance misuse problems in Japan could motivate (alcohol, drugs), and previous self-harm. vulnerable youngsters to commit suicide. They also explain that physical or sexual abuse and intercultural stresses may also be 3.1 Suicidal Motives of 12 Teenage the factors, but this could differ depending Characters in 12 Suicidal Teens Films on the country or environment's condition. Through dialogue, the twelve teenage Another research conducted by characters in the film 12 Suicidal Teens Hidaka et al. (2008) proved four general each reveal the problems that drive them to factors identified as Japanese youth commit suicide. They met via internet potential contributors to attempted suicide. suicide pacts to carry out a suicide They consisted of individual characteristics procession in an abandoned hospital's (age, sexual orientation), interpersonal basement. Suicide internet or net suicide is factors (school bullying, family closeness), nothing new in Japan. It is a notorious risk behaviours (sexual activity, drug use, phrase in the Japanese language since the alcohol use, smoking), and psychological early 2000s that refers to the process of factors (self-esteem). The causes can vary recruiting, staging, and committing suicide between males and females. However, this through the internet. The media broadcast research found that experiencing school these unusual suicides repeatedly so that bullying and a history of drug use are more more people can access information about associated with attempted suicide than the suicide website. This case then triggered living with the family concerning protective chain reactions that cause vulnerable factors. Japanese youngsters to imitate suicide Through the telephone crisis hotline victims via internet suicide (Naito, 2007). or Inochi no Denwa, the relationship The teenagers in the film who got between suicidal ideation and family information about the internet suicide pact problems among young callers was also indicate that various groups can access the significantly lower than other callers suicide pact whether they are adult or young, (Ohtaki et al., 2019). Meanwhile, based on male or female. the 2018 MEXT Survey on problematic This internet suicide phenomenon behaviour and non-attendance of school indicates that dying together is an option children, the possible reasons for suicide when someone is desperate but unable to caused by family disagreements and commit suicide alone. The courage in reprimanded by their parents were taking the action of suicide will appear

IZUMI, Volume 10 No 1, 2021, [Page | 175] e-ISSN: 2502-3535, p-ISSN: 2338-249X Available online at: http://ejournal.undip.ac.id/index.php/izumi when someone accompanies him/her to obsession for me. I am then commit suicide. Japanese society is very curious, what is the intolerant of internet suicide pacts because feeling of wanting to die they view it as irresponsible and careless, actually. " and the victim has a weak will to die alone. (Tsutsumi, 2019) Although suicide is one way of emphasising that individuals have autonomy or decisions Satoshi comes from a broken family. against themselves in collectivist societies, At a young age, he had to experience internet suicide pacts include individual separation in his family. Also, he was despair that subordinates their exposed to attempted suicide by his brother independence to collective decisions and mother and suicide by his father. (Ozawa-de Silva, 2008). Accordingly, Creating the internet suicide pact is a suicide together via the internet itself is hard reaction that arises from a series of to say as personal autonomy. While at the tragedies that have befallen his family. same time, society sees suicide as a normal Other characters who experienced phenomenon and comments about it broken families are Seigo and Meiko. Seigo whether it is a proper way or not. felt threatened by his mother, who was in a relationship with a man he thought could 3.1.1 Broken Family and Difficulties influence his mother to get rid of him for with Parents money. Meanwhile, Meiko felt that suicide Satoshi is the character who took the was a noble act contributing to her father's initiative to make the suicide pact in this bankrupt business. Meiko's father married film. He only opened the arrangement for and divorced many times, and Meiko 12 people. The abandoned hospital where referred to him as the father who "got rid of he carried out the suicide procession with the evil women" who became her mother. other teenagers is a hospital his father used Seigo saw Meiko as a child whom his father to run, while his father had died of suicide. used to feel the decision she made was her decision, even though it was the decision his Satoshi "If: you mean as the father wanted. manager of this hospital, What Seigo and Meiko have in yes, you're right. He common is that they hoped suicide could committed suicide, so you affect their insurance policy. Seigo hoped can call it quits. " that his less than a year of insurance would ...... result in his policy not being issued so that Satoshi "He: suffered from a long his mother would regret having a depression because of my relationship with the man. Meanwhile, mother and brother's suicide attempt. My brother Meiko, whose insurance had been running failed to enter medical for a year, hoped that her policy would be school. Even though their issued as she hoped to be a child who lives were saved, but then contributed to helping her father's bankrupt they separated, and I stayed business. with my father. " In Japan, the suicidal motive to pass ...... an insurance policy on to the family was Shinjirō "Is: that what gave you the usually carried out by people in the 40-60 idea of setting up this age range when they were in debt or in a bad meeting?" economic condition. Insurance company Satoshi "Right.: Death had infected regulations in Japan then stipulated that many people around me in such a short time, and it is customers could take the policy after becoming a kind of several years of signing the contract. In the

IZUMI, Volume 10 No 1, 2021, [Page | 176] e-ISSN: 2502-3535, p-ISSN: 2338-249X Available online at: http://ejournal.undip.ac.id/index.php/izumi early time insurance was introduced, people feel sad or ashamed, and it is a form Japanese people registered in droves, and of revenge (1976, p. 194). Anri and Seigo after signing the contract, some of them have the same motives regarding the committed suicide to immediately get a behaviour of adults in their families. policy (Kodama, Fujimoto, Tamura, & Suicide became a protest which they hoped Kataoka, 2017). Seeing that insurance would be punishment and muse for the policies are used, the family's financial adults. Unlike Meiko, she learned from her condition also influences the child to father that "getting out of the way" or commit suicide. "getting rid of" yields benefits. It is also Another character, Anri, wants to illustrated by Meiko pushing Nobuo off the convey a message to the public that her stairs, thinking that Nobuo will get in the decision to commit suicide was to protest way of the suicide procession. against adults who were not responsible for their children. Anri's parents were rarely at 3.1.2 Bullying home, whereas a fire broke out when his Bullying also has the potential to cause mother left again after smoking for a while. Japanese teenagers to commit suicide. Her younger brother, less than a year old, Several studies mention that bullying died, and Anri got burns that almost covered contributes to the phenomenon of absent half of her left leg. children (futōkō) and cases of suicide in adolescents. Spring is the season where adolescent suicide is rampant in Japan. It is Anri "I : have a younger brother. He likely related to school events in spring, was burned to death by the age of one. At that time, I was four such as the new academic year where bully years old. I watched it, victims will meet again and "exam hell," everything burned to the which shows that students are depressed by ground, the ceiling collapsed. I demands for high academic scores heard him scream, knocked me (Shinsugi et al., 2015; Tajan, 2015). There out. He was struggling to was a case of suicide of a 13-year-old survive, whereas my mother was student in February 1986 caused by often away for days. On that bullying, which causing the Minister of day, she came home while we Education to hold an emergency meeting in were asleep. She smoked for a March 1986 for the first time to discuss this while, then left again. Why did issue (Goodman, Imoto, & Toivonen, my brother have to be born? And my mom? What right have 2012). it to give us such pain? Someone Ken'ich is the character that shows a has to stop this. There must be victim of bullying since middle school. He no other child like us. It's our said the bullying was started by his right to oppose selfish adults for homeroom teacher and then spread to his our worthy lives! We shouldn't friends. be born! " (Tsutsumi, 2019) Seigo "How: long have you Lebra quoted Kambe as he claimed been bullied?" Ken'ichi "It's: about two years. that the Japanese young tend to blame Even longer if it's others for the burdens they receive and want counted since junior to tell them that their suicide is a form of high school. " punishment and responsibility for the other Mai "By: classmates? person. Suicide committed by adolescents Extracurricular is the most effective way to make other friends? "

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Ken'ichi "Originally: by the really want to confess. homeroom teacher. The feeling is killing me. Then it spreads out of " control." (Tsutsumi, 2019) Mai "Did: you tell it to your parents?" Ken'ichi "My: parents want me Conformity is believed to be a vicious to change schools. circle in bullying cases in Japanese society. And I got scolded all The differences in an individual are out." constantly being pointed out. Individuals (Tsutsumi, 2019) then lose their group membership, and it makes them ask about their identity and Instead of resolving his bullying case self-worth. Victims also rarely receive with related parties, his parents told him to support from their surrounding friends change schools. He felt that he did not because they are afraid of being bullied too. receive the support he expected from his This strive towards conformity makes parents. The family itself should act as a bullying victims cornered even more until place that provides children with comfort they took their own life (Peaslee, 2011). when they are depressed. This lack of This film also depicts victims of bullying support from teachers, friends, and parents losing any social ties because they do not has made him depressed until he intends to get help properly from family or school. commit suicide. Even worse, when other incidents as Nobuo On the other hand, Nobuo wanted to did, revenged on the bully may have commit suicide because he regretted his occurred. revenge on the person who bullied him. 3.1.3 Suicide-Related to Public Figures Nobuo pushed the bully down the stairs and Exposure of public figure's suicide by was later pronounced dead. Although his media may affect copycats or imitation for school did not know it, he was then vulnerable youngsters. Even though it may depressed and unable to tell the truth. not be suicide, suicide thought or attempted suicide can occur, especially among fans. Nobuo "One: year ago, I killed The parasocial phenomenon in which fans my schoolmate." feel emotionally close to specific public Mitsue "Not: on purpose, figures can encourage vulnerable fans to right?" self-harm and commit suicide (Hoffner & Nobuo "No,: I planned it. He Cohen, 2018; Lutter, Roex, & Tisch, 2020). treated me very badly. It also shows how the role of the media in He's the leader. " ...... reporting a public figure. The news of the Nobuo "Usually,: I rarely have loss of a famous public figure would bring a hard time dealing with various feelings to the public. things. But, this time, I Mitsue came to the procession with a was wrong. " gothic lolita-style appearance. She was Mitsue "But: that bad guy is inspired by a celebrity she liked, who also gone. Why are you wore dark gothic-style fashion. Her fanatic here? " towards this celebrity made her want to Nobuo : "Nobody knows. commit suicide because it turned out that The incident was this celebrity had died by suicide. On the considered as an other hand, there is a character named accident. My disturbances ended, but Ryoko as a famous teenage celebrity with since then, hell began. I the pseudonym Riko. Her fame only gave

IZUMI, Volume 10 No 1, 2021, [Page | 178] e-ISSN: 2502-3535, p-ISSN: 2338-249X Available online at: http://ejournal.undip.ac.id/index.php/izumi her the burden due to the pressure from the access this information. The problem is work environment. She said that her life as more about how it affects vulnerable people a celebrity was just fake and used by people (Fink, Santaella-Tenorio, & Keyes, 2018). in her work environment. Death by suicide Celebrities also rarely discuss mental health was a decision that she thought was not issues in front of the media. Wood et al. interfered with by the will of others. The (2014) mentioned that the stigma in society two figures also caught smoking as a about mental health issues might also be reaction to the pressure they experienced. why people do not report depression Through suicide, Ryoko hoped that symptoms. her actions could arouse feelings of guilt towards people in her work environment, 3.1.4 Sexual Abuse and Despair who only used her fame for products and Caused by Chronic Illness Led to money. Knowing Ryoko's decision, Mitsue Suicide forbade her from committing suicide Several teenage characters in 12 Suicidal because it would reproduce another 'Mitsue'. Teens films suffered from incurable diseases. Takahiro's illness since childhood gave him the effect of stuttering. Medicines Ryoko : "I'm no different from were unable to cure him and caused him all of you. I have to be honest with myself. I depressed instead. He decided to commit want to bury this fake suicide because he felt himself and his person named Riko illness were a burden to his mother. forever. " Meanwhile, Shinjirō life span remained a ...... little because of his illness. He was Mitsue : "You can't be like us! hospitalised for a long time and needed to You have been chosen! " use a wheelchair. Shinjirō's illness is not Ryoko : "It's all fake! It's all described in the film but is shown through about products and him wearing a wig and hat to cover his bald money! If you sacrifice head due to hair loss. He was depressed your life for that, you because he could not do much in his life, so fool! ...... he decided to end it with suicide. Ryoko : "All my life, I've been Another character, Mai, was forced to surrounded by people engage in intercourse by a man she who took advantage of encountered over the internet, which me. I don't want other resulted in her contracting genital herpes. people to interfere with She said it could not be cured, which made my death. " her decide to commit suicide. It also shows (Tsutsumi, 2019) the use of the internet to put teenagers in danger when not supervised by adults. The deaths of high-profile public Teens can easily be exposed to harmful figures exposed by media may have things on the internet and not aware of the contributed to the increase in the suicide risks that wait in front of them. rate in the general population. People Different story, Yuki had an accident exposed to this information may also feel with her brother and caused her hands sadness even though they do not know the unable to lift heavy objects. However, what public figure well (Bingaman, 2020; Ueda, made her decide to commit suicide was his Mori, & Matsubayashi, 2014). However, brother's condition in a wheelchair due to the following suicide chains are not always being paralysed. She brought the 13th attributable to the public figure. Suicide can character, her older brother, to the meeting occur when high-risk people for suicide that Satoshi planned. Her brother was

IZUMI, Volume 10 No 1, 2021, [Page | 179] e-ISSN: 2502-3535, p-ISSN: 2338-249X Available online at: http://ejournal.undip.ac.id/index.php/izumi already lying in one of the beds that used for individuals express their emotions freely. the procession. All the characters thought Suicidal ideation trends can be found he had preceded the procession. Yuki felt among young internet users. When they guilty for her brother's condition and felt cannot tell on wanting to commit suicide in that her brother should be "released". It also daily communication, they write it on social points out that an idea or culture influences media platforms such as Twitter (Fahey, adolescents' view of death as a "liberation" Boo, & Ueda, 2020; Sueki, 2015). This case from misery in the world. raises the positive and negative effects of Patients with chronic illness or social media use related to suicidal conditions can be susceptible to youngsters. On the positive side, the public psychological disorders and affecting their health field can use social media to prevent psychosocial development. Suris, Michaud, suicide among youngsters. On the negative and Viner (2004) mentioned that the side, the exposure to information related to process of individualisation and suicide on social media can also have a socialisation is important in managing copycat effect on vulnerable youngsters. chronic conditions during the rapid growth The motives and goals expressed by and physiological changes in adolescents. 12 teenagers in the film 12 Suicidal Teens They cited several studies on the could be the things that usually become the psychological problems that are more likely reasons why teenagers decide to commit to arise in adolescents with chronic illness suicide. The interesting part is, the ending than their healthy counterparts. As cited of this film tells that the teenagers cancelled from Lavigne and Gaier-Routman, to commit suicide. This decision was adolescents with chronic conditions tend to influenced by the uninvited character — show internalisation symptoms, or from Yuki's brother — who was still alive and Suris, Parera, and Puig that said chronically found sleeping throughout the meeting ill girls are more likely to have emotional because he was given a high dose of problems. They also cited Canning's sleeping pills. The twelve characters research for discovering that adolescents realised that if he was included in the with chronic illness may have a higher procession, the case might turn into murder, prevalence of at least one psychiatric and their suicidal goals would fail. Satoshi diagnosis. Another was cited from Siegel, agreed to cancel as Shinjirō requested after Golden, Gough, et al. that suggest all the characters also agreed to the depression or low self-esteem is more likely decision. Shinjirō realised that the wish for to develop in adolescents with chronic the uninvited character to stay alive also conditions. applied to everyone. He wanted everyone at These teenage characters' chronic the meeting to stay alive, although, in the conditions and uneasy experiences arose end, Anri would still like to come if Satoshi internal difficulties that are profound and held it again. It turns out that Satoshi difficult to be spoken out. Suicide becomes himself has not only once led this suicide the last choice to end their suffering that pact. It shows good communication and others may not see but is difficult to deal approaches as a way to prevent suicide in with for themselves. adolescents, whether through professionals, adults, or peers. The suicide pact here seems 3.2 The Role of Societal Change in to be turning into a means of speaking out Increasing Teen Suicide in Japan of despair and making them realise that Suicide is difficult to prevent, partly there will still be people who want them to because of lack of communication. continue to choose life rather than death. Meanwhile, several studies have found that Religion could be one of the social media or SNS is a platform where important reasons for the suicide

IZUMI, Volume 10 No 1, 2021, [Page | 180] e-ISSN: 2502-3535, p-ISSN: 2338-249X Available online at: http://ejournal.undip.ac.id/index.php/izumi phenomenon in Japan. There is no religious (murder and terrorism) appears and the prohibition against suicide, especially in inability to empathise with others increases Buddhism and Shinto as popular religions (Yoda, 2000). in Japan. It is different from Christian The journal AERA in 2003 published teaching, which regulates to refrain from the issue of suicide based on interviews committing self-destruction. Even though with a hundred Japanese teenagers aged 15 Japanese people later claimed to be atheists, to 19. On the question of why they had the phenomenon of suicide was still high suicidal thoughts, some respondents and was said to be malaise or disease in answered feeling bored (nan to naku) , society (Picone, 2012). Suicidal behaviour tired of living and feeling elements about also used to be regarded as a criminal act who they are. Such statements are found a from a religious perspective. People would parallel with the comments made by see individuals who commit suicide as individuals who visit suicide websites. having only a moral crisis. However, most From this survey, there are records that countries have already decriminalised the death has become a kind of lottery in suicide act, including Japan (Yamamura, attempted suicide. Dying or not dying, Kinoshita, Nishiguchi, & Hishida, 2006). either would be all right. There is no sense There is no association shown of the twelve of the desperation of really wanting to die youths with any religion in the 12 Suicidal anymore. They just want to pause from Teens. Nonetheless, the decision of these living (Ozawa-De Silva, 2010). In the film characters to commit suicide seems to have 12 Suicidal Teens, Satoshi himself did not become a normal thing in their social life. care whether he would die or not through Besides religion, the suicide rate in the suicide pact he made. Moreover, when Japan is said to be responsive to economic Nobuo finally felt his burden was gone, he conditions. People consider that the 1990s' no longer cared how death would come to economic chaos is highly related to the him. Death becomes something trivial for sudden malfunction of the "Japanese the young generation. system." Not only politics and economy, When poverty in Japan began to but the malfunction also disrupts the social emerge as an issue, there is also significant and cultural organisations of the nation inequality among Japanese children (Chen, Choi, & Sawada, 2009; Yoda, 2000). associated with family conditions. Public New social phenomena then influenced by social protection schemes are usually based postmodernism have emerged among the on the assumption that everyone is younger generation. Conservatives see supported by family first. Therefore, the them as an antisocial generation, having no family is considered the biggest provider of achievements, showing moral degradation, safety nets. However, there is a changing and symbolising a national crisis. Miyadai family structure in Japan which might be Shinji, a Japanese sociologist, responds to the root of the problem. In the past, the this as an adaptation of the owarinaki family structure consisting of three nichijō or the endless every day. Japanese generations could still be relied on to young people feel bored with their daily support children's needs both lives. It also contributed to shaping psychologically and materially. However, subcultures such as otaku, who try to get out the family structure is now reduced to being of the boring reality by entering the virtual father, mother, child, or just a lone parent world. These changes are seen as a and child (ren). This family consisting of a symptom of de socialisation in the younger lone parent and unmarried child (ren) generation. They can no longer distinguish suffers from a high poverty rate among the between reality and the virtual, so it will working-age population. become a time bomb where violence

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Consequently, children lack basic reason for adolescents to decide to commit amenities, are vulnerable to health suicide. problems, and could be problematic in Tsutsumi himself considers that this understanding classes. It indicates that not social phenomenon is a problem that must following the traditional path would likely be faced by Japanese society in the future. risk a family into poverty, although the With this film, he hopes that cases of causal relationship could be reversed. These suicide, especially by teenagers whose problems could affect children and motives and what may still escape goals adolescents in taking high-risk actions from adult supervision, will be able to open directly and indirectly (Abe, 2018). our eyes and be addressed more deeply by Kumagai (1983) said that the change Japanese society. Thus, the suicide rate in in family structure in Japan from stem Japan hopefully can be suppressed in family to nuclear family and traditional various circles, especially among values to modern values are the impacts of adolescents (Cheung, 2019). industrialisation, bringing society more urban.This change began to contribute to a References high rate of divorce in the 1980s. However, divorce was common among Japanese Abe, A. K. (2018). Poverty among society in general — whose livelihoods Japanese Children and Youths: were farmers, fishermen, and merchants —, Issues & Policies. Japan: Ministry while 80 per cent of Japan's population of Health, Labor and Welfare before industrialisation was dominated by Bingaman, J. (2020). “Dude I’ve Never Felt these. This Way Towards a Celebrity While economic factors as macro Death”: Parasocial Grieving and the variables might explain the suicide Collective Mourning of Kobe epidemic in Japan at the national level, Bryant on Reddit. OMEGA-Journal problems in day-to-day lives that adults of death and dying, often do not see or people considered 0030222820971531. mundane could also contribute to the risk of Chen, J., Choi, Y. J., & Sawada, Y. (2009). committing suicide for adolescents (Hidaka How is suicide different in Japan? et al., 2008). Changes or developments in Japan and the World Economy, social life that may arise the micro variables 21(2), 140-150. might explain the reasons of Japanese doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.japwor adolescents for choosing to commit suicide. .2008.06.001 Cheung, R. (2019, 10 April). 12 Suicidal 4. Conclusion Teens: Blockbuster Director The social changes that occurred in Japan Explores Japan’s Youth Suicide put pressure not only on adult but also on Issue. Retrieved from the lives of the youth. Information that is https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/ent increasingly easy to obtain by anyone can ertainment/article/3005408/12- become a boomerang for society because suicidal-teens-blockbuster-director- people can learn from what this information explores-japans. says. Suicide itself is multifaceted, which Fahey, R. A., Boo, J., & Ueda, M. (2020). can be seen from psychological, social, Covariance in diurnal patterns of religious, cultural, and even economic suicide-related expressions on perspectives. Nevertheless, issues that Twitter and recorded suicide deaths. people, particularly adults, considered Social Science & Medicine, 253, ordinary that youth might experience in 112960. their everyday lives can potentially be a

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