The Sociology of “Karo-Jisatsu” （Suicide Induced by Overwork）

Abstract

“Karo-Jisatsu” (suicide induced by overwork) has often been connected to criticisms of Japanese society for its self-sacrificing labor culture and merciless economics. This argument merely repeats the legal and critical discourse of “Karo-Jisatsu” and voids the legal fiction of individuals with a responsibility to be critical of society. Moreover, at the level of practice, neither the cancelling of the fiction nor the issue of social criticism has been pursued. Contrary to the previous seemingly “sociological” explanations, our society neither operates strictly nor abandons easily the modern fiction of “intention”. The sociology of suicide should illuminate the various aspects of the fiction in our society.