Longitudinal change in youth suicide mortality in Okinawa after World War II: A comparative study with mainland Japan

Abstract Okinawa prefecture has a unique socio-cultural status in Japan including the experience of having been occupied by the USA from the end of World War II to 1972. In this study, the longitudinal change in youth suicide mortality for those aged 10–29 years in Okinawa (1960–90) was compared with that for the same sex-age groups in mainland Japan (1950–90). In contrast with mainland Japan, no dramatic change in the youth suicide mortality was observed in Okinawa in the 1960s. The rise and fall of teenage suicide mortality in Okinawa during the 1970–80s might be associated with 'reversion anxiety', rather than with the traumatic experience of World War II itself. This seems to be inconsistent with previous speculation regarding the change in youth suicide mortality in mainland Japan. The suicide mortality for men aged 20–29 in Okinawa was significantly higher than that for the same sex-age group in mainland Japan through the observed period. The possible effects of the USA occupation, economic anomie or migration on the suicide in Okinawa should be further examined.