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
Broadcasts
- Thu 11 Aug 2016 02:06GMT麻豆社 World Service Online & UK DAB/Freeview only
- Thu 11 Aug 2016 03:06GMT麻豆社 World Service East Asia
- Thu 11 Aug 2016 04:06GMT麻豆社 World Service Australasia & South Asia only
- Thu 11 Aug 2016 06:06GMT麻豆社 World Service East and Southern Africa
- Thu 11 Aug 2016 14:06GMT麻豆社 World Service except News Internet
- Thu 11 Aug 2016 21:06GMT麻豆社 World Service except East and Southern Africa & News Internet
- Sat 13 Aug 2016 02:32GMT麻豆社 World Service Europe and the Middle East, East Asia & West and Central Africa only
- Sat 13 Aug 2016 16:32GMT麻豆社 World Service Online
- Sat 13 Aug 2016 19:32GMT麻豆社 World Service East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa only
- Sun 14 Aug 2016 09:06GMT麻豆社 World Service except News Internet
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