KaroshiKaroshiBy Naomi LatorracaBy Naomi Latorraca

What Is Karoshi?What Is Karoshi?Karoshi is a Japanese form of suicide.Karoshi is a Japanese form of suicide.

Karoshi was first formally practiced Karoshi was first formally practiced during the times of shoguns and samurai during the times of shoguns and samurai in Japan.in Japan.

Anybody was allowed to or could be Anybody was allowed to or could be asked to commit suicide.asked to commit suicide.

WhyWhy Did Samurai Perform Did Samurai Perform Karoshi?Karoshi?

Samurai performed karoshi to…Samurai performed karoshi to…please their masters.please their masters.

get rid of his or her shame in life.get rid of his or her shame in life.

gain respect for his or her family.gain respect for his or her family.

have an honorable death.have an honorable death.

How To Perform KaroshiHow To Perform Karoshi

There are many ways to perform karoshi. There are many ways to perform karoshi.

The favored method of performing karoshi The favored method of performing karoshi is called hara-kiri.is called hara-kiri.

This method is a way of committing This method is a way of committing suicide by slitting yourself across the suicide by slitting yourself across the stomach with your own sword.stomach with your own sword.

Other ways include slitting your wrist and Other ways include slitting your wrist and chopping off your head.chopping off your head.

The Two Samurai The Two Samurai SwordsSwords

A samurai was expected to carry two swords at A samurai was expected to carry two swords at all times: a long sword and a short sword.all times: a long sword and a short sword.In order to perform hara-kiri, a samurai would In order to perform hara-kiri, a samurai would make the first cut into his stomach with the make the first cut into his stomach with the long sword and take out his organs with the long sword and take out his organs with the short sword. short sword. The long sword was used to carry out other The long sword was used to carry out other forms of suicide. forms of suicide.

KamikazeKamikazeDuring World War II, Japanese soldiers During World War II, Japanese soldiers practiced another form of suicide - kamikaze.practiced another form of suicide - kamikaze.

Kamikaze was a suicide mission in which the Kamikaze was a suicide mission in which the pilot of the plane flew the plane into enemy pilot of the plane flew the plane into enemy property. property.

Kamikaze pilots felt that it was honorable to Kamikaze pilots felt that it was honorable to die for their country and were exuberant if they die for their country and were exuberant if they were asked to train for their suicide mission.were asked to train for their suicide mission.

Current Causes Of KaroshiCurrent Causes Of KaroshiToday people of all ages perform Today people of all ages perform karoshi because…karoshi because…

they are depressed from work or school.they are depressed from work or school.they are ashamed of their actions. they are ashamed of their actions. they despise life.they despise life.they think no one loves them or cares for they think no one loves them or cares for them.them.

People today that perform karoshi do People today that perform karoshi do not use the traditional method.not use the traditional method.

Statistics Of KaroshiStatistics Of Karoshi67% of the people that perform karoshi are 67% of the people that perform karoshi are men.men.

According to BBC News, in the year 2000, According to BBC News, in the year 2000, 33,000 people committed karoshi in Japan. 33,000 people committed karoshi in Japan.

The suicide rate in Japan is higher than that of The suicide rate in Japan is higher than that of Great Britain, Germany, Italy or the United Great Britain, Germany, Italy or the United States, although lower than those for men in States, although lower than those for men in Austria, Finland and France.Austria, Finland and France.