According to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, Japanese are more likely to commit suicide on Monday (getsuyobi) than on any other day of the week.

Ministry figures showed that 23,396 men and 8,713 women committed suicide in Japan during 2003. On average, 64.1 men took their lives every day in Japan, but the average rate for Mondays was 80.7 men. Women averaged 23.9 self-inflicted deaths daily, but this rose to 27.3 on Mondays. On Saturdays, the average fell to 53.5 for men and 21.2 for women.

The study also showed that men are more likely to kill themselves between 5 a.m. and 7 a.m., while women preferred the hour between noon and 1 p.m.

Some feel that this data may indicate that the very thought of having to show up at the office is enough to push certain men over the edge.

JP