Japan Appoints Minister Of Loneliness To Tackle Suicides

New-Delhi: Japan has appointed its first Minister for Loneliness after the country’s suicide rates increased for the first time in 11 years during the Covid-19 pandemic.

According to The Japan Times, Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga added a minister of loneliness to his Cabinet earlier this month, following the example of the UK, which in 2018 became the first country to create a similar role.

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga has appointed Tetsushi Sakamoto as its first-ever Minister for Loneliness in his cabinet. Besides this, Sakamoto is also in charge of managing the nation’s falling birth rate and strengthening regional economies.

In his inaugural press conference, Sakamoto said Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga appointed him to address national matters “including the issue of the increasing women’s suicide rate under the pandemic,” according to CNN.

“Suga instructed me to examine the issue and put forward a comprehensive strategy, by coordinating with the related ministry. I hope to carry out activities to prevent social loneliness and isolation and to protect ties between people,” Sakamoto added.