Depression in Japan
Japan is going through a revolution in how depression is talked about and treated. Christopher Harding explores why.
Up until the late 1990s, depression was all but unknown in Japanese society and pharmaceutical companies had given up on trying to sell anti-depressants there. Fast forward to today and court cases alleging overwork depression and overwork suicide, reassuring commercial branding of depression as a "cold of the soul" and increased media attention have turned Japan into a highly medicated society. In the first episode of a five-part series about mental health and culture, Christopher Harding explores how in just a few years, psychiatrists, lawyers and the pharmaceutical companies helped introduce 'depression' to Japan.
Producer: Keith Moore
(Photo by Tori Sugari)
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Why wasn't depression recognised in Japan till the 1990s?
Duration: 03:34
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- Thu 11 Aug 201602:06GMTBBC World Service Online & UK DAB/Freeview only
- Thu 11 Aug 201603:06GMTBBC World Service East Asia
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- Sat 13 Aug 201602:32GMTBBC World Service Europe and the Middle East, East Asia & West and Central Africa only
- Sat 13 Aug 201616:32GMTBBC World Service Online
- Sat 13 Aug 201619:32GMTBBC World Service East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa only
- Sun 14 Aug 201609:06GMTBBC World Service except News Internet
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