Statistics from the National Police Agency of Japan show that a total of 32,325 people committed suicide in Japan in 2004, making the number exceed 30,000 for the seventh consecutive year.

23,272 of the total are male and 23,868 are above 40 years old. Jobless people account for about 47.8 percent as the largest group. Nearly 8,000 commit suicide for "economic and life problems", which shows the impact of a long-lasting stagnant economy.

Suicides in Japan surpassed 30,000 in 1998 for the first time and reached 34,427 in 2003, a new high since 1978.

By People's Daily Online