Double suicide in Japan in the post-war reconstruction period, with reference to contemporary Japan.

IF 1.5 4区 医学 Q1 LAW
Medicine, Science and the Law Pub Date : 2023-07-01 Epub Date: 2022-10-30 DOI:10.1177/00258024221136686
Fumiko Satoh, Junpei Nagato, Wataru Irie, Chizuko Sasaki, Eriko Ochiai, Maho Kondo, Kino Hayashi
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引用次数: 1

Abstract

After Japan's post-war reconstruction, in the early 1950s, cases of double suicide, in which two people (particularly young lovers) leave a suicide note and die together, were a relatively frequent occurrence. During the three-year period between 1954 and 1956, 5466 suicides were recorded in the special wards of Tokyo, including 79 cases of double suicides, accounting for 158 deaths. In these double suicide cases (2.89% of all deaths by suicide), the evidence revealed that 65.8% involved lovers and 29.1% involved married couples. By contrast, contemporary data indicate a large drop in suicide pacts between lovers to 15.9% and an increase between spouses to 48.8%. Conceivably, the relatively high double-suicide rate after post-war reconstruction reflected difficulties for the younger generation in reconciling 'marriage based primarily on love' and the traditional family system, specifically marriage problems and stress caused by rapidly changing post-war values. One notable difference between victims of double suicide in 1954-1956 and the contemporary period is the younger average age of the former. Another important shift was found in the most common causes of death among victims of double suicide: in 1954-1956 these were poisoning by cyanide or hypnotic drugs, compared to carbon monoxide poisoning and hanging in modern times. We discuss similarities and differences concerning double suicides in relation to social and economic conditions in Japan in the 1950s and today.

日本战后重建时期的双重自杀,以当代日本为参照。
日本战后重建后,在20世纪50年代初,两人(尤其是年轻的恋人)留下遗书并一起死亡的双重自杀事件相对频繁。在1954年至1956年的三年时间里,东京特别病房记录了5466起自杀事件,其中包括79起双重自杀事件,造成158人死亡。在这些双重自杀案件中(占所有自杀死亡人数的2.89%),证据显示65.8%涉及情侣,29.1%涉及已婚夫妇。相比之下,当代数据显示,恋人之间的自杀协议大幅下降至15.9%,配偶之间的自杀率上升至48.8%。可以想象,战后重建后相对较高的双重自杀率反映了年轻一代在调和“主要基于爱情的婚姻”和传统家庭制度方面的困难,特别是战后价值观迅速变化所造成的婚姻问题和压力。1954-1956年双重自杀受害者与当代的一个显著差异是前者的平均年龄更年轻。另一个重要的变化是双重自杀受害者最常见的死亡原因:1954-1956年,与现代的一氧化碳中毒和绞刑相比,这是氰化物或催眠药物中毒。我们讨论了20世纪50年代和今天日本双重自杀与社会和经济状况的异同。
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来源期刊
Medicine, Science and the Law
Medicine, Science and the Law 医学-医学:法
CiteScore
2.90
自引率
6.70%
发文量
53
审稿时长
>12 weeks
期刊介绍: Medicine, Science and the Law is the official journal of the British Academy for Forensic Sciences (BAFS). It is a peer reviewed journal dedicated to advancing the knowledge of forensic science and medicine. The journal aims to inform its readers from a broad perspective and demonstrate the interrelated nature and scope of the forensic disciplines. Through a variety of authoritative research articles submitted from across the globe, it covers a range of topical medico-legal issues. The journal keeps its readers informed of developments and trends through reporting, discussing and debating current issues of importance in forensic practice.
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