It's been nine months since I last wrote about the presence of the Covid19 virus in Japan, eleven months since the pandemic originally started. Japan was very quick to secure itself against the Coronavirus. But, while it may have had more advance warning that some other countries due to the infected luxury cruise ship that was anchored off its shores for several months before it experienced its own first cases, Japan still had to cope with over 2,000 cases. And, in an effort to contain the virus before it got too out of hand and as a safeguard for the vast number of elderly citizens in the country, Japan took immediate and drastic action when its first cases were reported. The whole country was shut down, with only "essential" businesses staying open; travel bans were put in place, barring any and all tourists from countries with high Covid infection rates; face masks were made compulsory to enter any building; and citizens were advised to stay at home unless travel was absolutely unavoidable. These restrictions and guidelines remained in effect for a few months, until they were lifted on May 14, 2020, as case numbers slowly but surely went down.
As of right now, Japan is still being careful about the Coronavirus. Travel bans are still in effect for many countries, including but not limited to the USA, Italy, and India; many concerned citizens still wear masks when out and about; and everyone is still encouraged to be cautious when going about their daily lives. But, for the most part, Covid19 is a past threat for the country of Japan. Quick action and advance notice enabled Japan to stop Covid in its tracks before it was able to ravage across the nation unchecked. When looking at the big picture, Japan's response to Covid19 and the ultimate outcome of its efforts were a huge success.
But, unbeknownst to anyone, another "virus" was and still is growing in Japan. As the nation battled Covid and did everything in its power to prevent widespread panic, another threat was growing in the dark. Actually, this threat isn't new - in fact, it's been in Japan for decades - but it was made worse while the country was preoccupied. The homebound masses were completely helpless against this unacknowledged "virus," which tore through them without any conscience or bias. The Japanese people never saw it coming and, in the midst of it, no one did anything to save those who were dying of it.
This Japanese "virus" is the greatest tragedy of the twenty-first century, simply because, though becoming "infected" is entirely preventable, yet it has been allowed to thrive and continue. It's been eating away at people in the dark for years and it is still surging forward today. The Japanese "virus" has another name, the name that everyone knows it by but about which few dare to speak out loud in polite society. The virus' true name is ... suicide.
Suicide has always been a known problem in Japan, but it is not one that people readily talk about. As previously established, Japan is a very ancient nation, built on customs and rigid traditions that dictate how society works. Everyone has a role to play in Japanese society and they are expected to contribute to "normal" life in some substantial way. In a way, Japanese society operates under the notion that the good of the many outweigh the needs of a few, so everyone is expected to function as a unit. If one part of the larger unit is failing or is unable to contribute to society like the rest of the workforce, he is often ignored and is simply replaced with a new part (person) that does his job as part of a larger network. People do not want to be perceived as the weakest link, which could reflect badly on their families, jobs, or schools, so, even if an individual is severely struggling with something like depression or suicidal thoughts or actions, he will not talk about it in polite company. His problems are invalid if it makes him a burden on a society that is already busy with a heavy workload. A person could struggle with depression or suicidal tendencies for years without letting anyone know because the fear of becoming a "burden" or an "inconvenience" to friends or family is greater than the person's desire for help and healing. And even if he were to seek help, there are little to no resources to help him. The Japanese government is aware of the suicide problem and has allotted funding for help lines and prevention counseling classes, but it's not enough. The suicide rate is simply too high and the resources too few to make a noticeable difference.
Japan's suicide rates have always been tragic, especially since the majority of the victims have been school-aged children and young adults just entering the work force. Fortunately, even though resources are limited, those that do exist have worked hard to help those in need. Volunteers, doctors, and local Christians have put in a valiant effort and had actually managed to drive the suicide rate down in the last few years, with 2019 boasting the lowest rate in over a decade. Since funding from the government has beenn scarce, private organizations had banded together to raise support and many non-profit resources had become available to those in need. Programs had sprung up that attempt to help high-risk individuals cope with their suicidal thoughts or tendencies. Volunteers had put in hundreds of hours of work checking up on high-risk individuals, counseling family members who had lost a loved one, and running classes that help people replace their negative emotions with productive activities like writing or yoga. By the end of 2019, Japan's national suicide rate was much lower than anyone expected and fewer and fewer people were even attempting suicide. The private organizations and the local governmental entities that had provided funding were greatly encouraged that, given the right circumstances, suicide prevention was possible; everyone looked towards the new year with hope and expected even better results.
Unfortunately, all of their hopes were soon dashed when the first cases of Covid19 reared their ugly heads in Japan. Though the Japanese government had been aware of the Coronavirus for months prior because of the infected luxury cruise ship that had anchored itself off the coast, and even though everyone in the country knew of the risks that came with Covid, once the first cases appeared, everything changed overnight. As previously stated, safety measures were put in place immediately and, in the blink of an eye, Japan was locked down. For all intents and purposes, Japan was safe. But, in securing its safety, Japan abandoned those who were most in need of help. Covid19 completely destroyed any progress that Japan was making on suicide prevention. Help lines that were already understaffed had to cut their hours and minimize their volunteers because of lockdowns; individuals who were willing to talk to and help suicidal people were sidelined when capacity restrictions were enacted; and the hope that can come from just one smile (potentially making someone reconsider suicide) was undermined when masks became mandatory everywhere. Suicide rates shot back up to a high that had not been seen for years, because there was nothing left to prevent it, and those who would help can only watch from the sidelines as all their hard work goes down the proverbial drain. One has to wonder if legitimizing the fear of Covid19 is worth the lives of thousands of hurting individuals who might die from suicide because they are not given help. They're lost and desperate and now they have nowhere to turn.
Japan is a nation in crisis. While this great nation could use prayer at anytime for a multitude of reasons, it needs your prayers now more than ever. Pray for those who are trapped in the throes of suicidal thoughts or actions, that they might find hope and a lasting purpose for living in Jesus Christ. Pray for the work of those who continue to minister to the lost and hurting of Japan, no matter their struggles or limitations, that their work would be blessed and that many would be saved, physically and spiritually, through their continued efforts. Pray for the government of Japan, that its officials would see the country's dire need for suicide prevention funding. And, finally, please pray that Covid19 itself would cease to frighten so many people, so life can return to normal and so those who cannot cope with the limitations and depression Covid brings would finally be given some relief.
In our darkest hour and in our deepest despair, God hears our prayers even if they are only a whisper. He hears and he is faithful to answer.
"For His unfailing love for us is powerful; the Lord's faithfulness endures forever. Praise the Lord!" (Psalm 117:2)
PrayerCast: Japan
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