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Death with dignity in the Japanese culture
Author(s) -
MD YONEZO NAKAGAWA
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
psychiatry and clinical neurosciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.609
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1440-1819
pISSN - 1323-1316
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-1819.1995.tb01920.x
Subject(s) - dignity , death with dignity , worship , suicide prevention , psychology , right to die , social psychology , poison control , medicine , psychiatry , medical emergency , political science , law
In Japanese culture, the concept of death with dignity focuses on enhancing the relationship with significant others (especially with family members) and is expected to continue even after death, unlike the autonomous decision making in Western cultures. Deaths in such relationships are self‐worthy, majestic and wished for. The author depicts these traits by describing the worship of sudden death aspiration in a special temple, the death ceremonies repeated even after death which involve even distantly related people, a suicide allusively asking for something, and a joint suicide.