Eudaimonia
先輩
- 14 Mar 2013
- 33
- 2
- 18
Didn't say that it was the primary cause, but i do think that it's part of the culture that leads to japan having a higher suicide rate (that's what i originally wrote) in comparison to other countries.What specifically is it about Obon that makes you associate it with an elevated incidence of suicide? Can you cite statistics that show a spike in suicides around Obon. Most people in Japan associate Obon with 1)Going home to visit relatives 2)One of the few chances of taking several days off and 3)Oh yeah, we have to go to the cemetery and spend ten minutes cleaning up a bit.
First time i was in a cemetery was when i was ~15 so your no.3 "Oh yeah, we have to go to the cemetery and spend ten minutes cleaning up a bit." would surely be enough to make at least a slight difference in comparison to other cultures that don't have such a thing.
By the way... No, i don't have statistics but i wouldn't expect a suicide spike, being accustomed to doing something again and again (Obon) over the years wouldn't cause that.