Suicides down in Japan as economy improves

TOKYO, Nov 3 (Reuters) The number of Japanese who committed suicide fell by nearly eight percent in the first half of this year, government data showed, a drop one official said reflected the improving economy.

A total of 14,828 people committed suicide from January to June, down from 16,082 in the same period of 2005, data from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare showed yesterday.

No religious prohibition exists against taking one's own life in Japan, where suicide was once a form of ritual atonement for samurai warriors and in modern times is a way to escape failure or save loved ones from shame or financial loss.

Kyodo news agency quoted a ministry official as saying that the drop in the number of people killing themselves was partly linked to the economy shaking off a decade-long economic slump.

The unemployment rate hit an eight-year low of 4.0 per cent in May. The rate peaked at a record high of 5.5 per cent in January 2003 but has been on a gradual decline since.

REUTERS SHB VC1026