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A Buddhist monk confronts Japan’s suicide culture (2013)

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Re: A Buddhist monk confronts Japan’s suicide culture (2013)

#31

Post by pessimizer »

thisjepisje wrote: post #28
enraged_camel wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>>She says people who commit suicide are losers can't apologize properly and work hard to make up for their mistake, or people who don't have the guts to weather through the hard times. My understanding is that at least some of the people who commit suicide have done things beyond apology. I mean, let's say a bridge collapses and kills tens of people, and it turns out this was due to the architect's gross negligence…

Are you implying he can make up for his mistake by killing himself?

No. enraged_camel is clearly asking if sometimes there is no proper apology, and no amount of work that one can do to make up for one's mistake.

Re: A Buddhist monk confronts Japan’s suicide culture (2013)

#33

Post by themodelplumber »

I used to live near the Tojimbo cliffs and have been thinking about the place (and what happens there) on and off since my first visit. I also really liked this NYT article, about a retired cop who made it his mission to stop suicide attempts at the cliffs. 222 lives had been saved as of late 2009.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/18/world/asia/18japan.html?_r...

Re: A Buddhist monk confronts Japan’s suicide culture (2013)

#34

Post by rrradical »

enraged_camel wrote: post #25
chris_mahan wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My wife is Japanese (born and raised there) and she does not look at it that way. She says people who commit suicide are losers can't apologize properly and work hard to make up for their mistake, or people who don't have the guts to weather through the hard times. Also, the whole samurai/bushido thing essentially doesn't exist for anyone under fifty over there. I went to Japan with my family in January, and I had a…

>>She says people who commit suicide are losers can't apologize properly and work hard to make up for their mistake, or people who don't have the guts to weather through the hard times. My understanding is that at least some of the people who commit suicide have done things beyond apology. I mean, let's say a bridge collapses and kills tens of people, and it turns out this was due to the architect's gross negligence…

Wouldn't it be a better use of his life to work to make sure that sort of accident never happens again? Maybe he changes the culture that led to his incompetence. Maybe he tutors young architects and teaches them to learn from his mistake. I think someone that makes such a huge mistake is actually in a very powerful position to salvage something from it.

Re: A Buddhist monk confronts Japan’s suicide culture (2013)

#35

Post by ranran876 »

dragontamer wrote: post #12

The Hikikomori has become a standard anime trope. Starting in 2009 in Anohana, the main character is a recovering Hikikomori (who went through quite a depressing story that caused him to withdraw from society). This last spring, there were at least three major animes revolving around the concept. "Nanana's burried treasure", "No Game No Life", and "Mekakucity actors" all have title characters who are Hikikomoris. Hik…

Just to contrast your experience, I had a very interesting two month working near Tokyo. The whole time I was there I didn't see any anime, or hikkimori and the whole thing didn't resemble anime at all (though.. granted, I'm not an expert in the genre). The only places you saw anything anime related was at gambling establishments and certain districts of Tokyo. I think on the whole, that subculture is looked down upon - just like in the US.

Most people just live boring normal middle class lives. I'm not denying that there is a problem, but I think it's not necessarily a statement about Japanese society as a whole. It's like if goth kids started slashing their wrists in large numbers. It might be a reflection of US society as a whole, or it might be a toxic subculture.

Re: A Buddhist monk confronts Japan’s suicide culture (2013)

#36

Post by rwallace »

enraged_camel wrote: post #25
chris_mahan wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My wife is Japanese (born and raised there) and she does not look at it that way. She says people who commit suicide are losers can't apologize properly and work hard to make up for their mistake, or people who don't have the guts to weather through the hard times. Also, the whole samurai/bushido thing essentially doesn't exist for anyone under fifty over there. I went to Japan with my family in January, and I had a…

>>She says people who commit suicide are losers can't apologize properly and work hard to make up for their mistake, or people who don't have the guts to weather through the hard times. My understanding is that at least some of the people who commit suicide have done things beyond apology. I mean, let's say a bridge collapses and kills tens of people, and it turns out this was due to the architect's gross negligence…

I think it makes more sense to set aside for now the 0.1% of cases that fall into that category, and work on ways to avoid the other 99.9% of suicides that don't.

Re: A Buddhist monk confronts Japan’s suicide culture (2013)

#37

Post by ciupicri »

jessaustin wrote: post #10

By tradition, suicide can absolve guilt and cancel debt, can restore honor and prove loyalty. In this respect I feel Japan's culture is superior to ours in the USA. For example, I felt Mark Madoff's suicide was entirely appropriate, a final act that put the rest of his life in a more dignified context. Yet every article one reads about it treats the suicide as an additional disgrace, yet another horrible thing we can…

From what I've just read it seems that Mark Madoff wasn't involved in his father's fraud, so I fail to see how his suicide was entirely appropriate.

Also from a pragmatic point of view, the victims of the fraud didn't get their money back, so his death was basically pointless except for the revenge factor.

Re: A Buddhist monk confronts Japan’s suicide culture (2013)

#38

Post by marincounty »

chris_mahan wrote: post #14
jessaustin wrote: post #10

By tradition, suicide can absolve guilt and cancel debt, can restore honor and prove loyalty. In this respect I feel Japan's culture is superior to ours in the USA. For example, I felt Mark Madoff's suicide was entirely appropriate, a final act that put the rest of his life in a more dignified context. Yet every article one reads about it treats the suicide as an additional disgrace, yet another horrible thing we can…

My wife is Japanese (born and raised there) and she does not look at it that way. She says people who commit suicide are losers can't apologize properly and work hard to make up for their mistake, or people who don't have the guts to weather through the hard times. Also, the whole samurai/bushido thing essentially doesn't exist for anyone under fifty over there. I went to Japan with my family in January, and I had a…

You and your wife sound nieve? Short, back/white answers benefit no one! Tell you wife, "Walk mile in man's shoes, then spout off ideology?" Or, just keep quiet and keep marital bliss? Wow-

Re: A Buddhist monk confronts Japan’s suicide culture (2013)

#39

Post by tixocloud »

hardmath123 wrote: post #20

Amazing. Japanese culture is the only one I know of where suicide is encourage and respected—is there any reason for that?

This might help your understanding: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bushido#Seven_virtues_of_Bushid...

As I understand it, the Samurai live by the 7 virtues: - Rectitude - Courage - Benevolence - Respect - Honesty - Honour - Loyalty

I wouldn't be surprised if these virtues continue to play a huge role in today's society. That said, I'm also not sure how serious people live by these virtues.

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