Firstly, it's not yoy. It's for one arbitrary month. It's not a trend. And it's insignificant. Suicides make up a tiny percentage of japan's death and population. Sure every suicide is tragic but it's really not a serious problem. Their 30 year economic stagnation and their low birthrate is far greater concern than suicide. It's the washingtonpost earning money by fetishizing japan/suicide and virtue signaling. It's one of the many problems with news. It's not that they report news, they have to manufacture news every single day. On slow news day, it's back to "japan suicides".

Also, wasn't there a study that said news of suicide actually contributed to more suicides? That spamming national suicide hotlines across social media actually increased suicides. That most people, including borderline suicidal people, don't think about suicide until it is broadcast all over news/social media?