yeah, japan has always had high suicide rates. there's just too much pressure on them from childhood to adulthood and honor at all times need to be protected.

there are also periods in their culture and history where suicide is honorable, especially at times of war where samurai commit seppuku or harakiri instead of allowing themselves to get caught by the enemy. or if they commit a big mistake and cannot live with the shame of it. even women used to have daggers hidden in their kimonos that will be used to kill themselves to prevent getting raped.

there are also times when they even kill themselves in protest of some issue.