3 ms·

Japan: 'Lonely Deaths' Rise Among Unemployed, Elderly

19 points by limist 17y ago

ww520 17y ago
Since there are so many system monitors built, can we build something of a human monitor? A device that can detect motion like the IPhone/IPod/IPad. Once it's not moved for a long time, like a day (allowance for sleep), it would transmit a signal to a center and someone can call back in to check. It can be worn around the neck.
- chime 17y ago
  In the US, they sell something called http://www.lifealert.com/ http://www.lifealert.com/ (very scammy late-night commercials) but I wonder why there couldn't be a free/cheap version of this. Kindle sells for $260 and has free life-time downloading via 3G. So it is possible to make devices that do not have monthly/annual fees that can hit a URL every now and then.
- dnsworks 17y ago
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQlpDiXPZHQ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQlpDiXPZHQ
miles 17y ago
FTA: Several hundred years ago, the Japanese witnessed death regularly, with bodies buried by family members and samurai displaying severed heads in public. These days, such moments are rare. Indeed, it is a crying shame that displaying severed heads in public has become so rare. Seriously though, can't Time magazine do a slightly better job editing?
- patio11 17y ago
  with bodies buried by family members Dealing with death is considered unclean in Shinto and many of the various traditions it was synthesized out of, which is why only Japan's untouchable caste (burakumin 部落民) did gravedigging, and one reason why they were ostracized. It has been, ahem, a very long time indeed since burying one's family members would be considered normative behavior. For more on this and other interesting topics, see your favorite Japanese Civilization 101 textbook.
  - ximeng 17y ago
    Before reading the textbook, maybe watch "Departures", the film mentioned in the article. I'd wager most people will find it to be easier going and more moving. Half the cinema was sniffling by the end when I saw it. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Departures_%28film%29 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Departures_%28film%29
- dnsworks 17y ago
  Japan got it's last hurrah of severed heads when it brutalized Nanking. I guess after Japan's devastating loss to America, who did not display the heads of our enemies, they accepted that their methods were sort of .. Barbaric?
dmlorenzetti 17y ago
This is not just in Japan. During heat waves, as observed for example in France (http://www.questia.com/googleScholar.qst?docId=5006569197 http://www.questia.com/googleScholar.qst?docId=5006569197) and Chicago (http://www.amazon.com/Heat-Wave-Autopsy-Disaster-Illinois/dp/0226443221 http://www.amazon.com/Heat-Wave-Autopsy-Disaster-Illinois/dp...), death tends to strike the socially isolated.

19 points by limist 17y ago

ww520 17y ago

Since there are so many system monitors built, can we build something of a human monitor? A device that can detect motion like the IPhone/IPod/IPad. Once it's not moved for a long time, like a day (allowance for sleep), it would transmit a signal to a center and someone can call back in to check. It can be worn around the neck.

chime 17y ago
In the US, they sell something called http://www.lifealert.com/ http://www.lifealert.com/ (very scammy late-night commercials) but I wonder why there couldn't be a free/cheap version of this. Kindle sells for $260 and has free life-time downloading via 3G. So it is possible to make devices that do not have monthly/annual fees that can hit a URL every now and then.
dnsworks 17y ago
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQlpDiXPZHQ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQlpDiXPZHQ

miles 17y ago

FTA: Several hundred years ago, the Japanese witnessed death regularly, with bodies buried by family members and samurai displaying severed heads in public. These days, such moments are rare. Indeed, it is a crying shame that displaying severed heads in public has become so rare. Seriously though, can't Time magazine do a slightly better job editing?

patio11 17y ago
with bodies buried by family members Dealing with death is considered unclean in Shinto and many of the various traditions it was synthesized out of, which is why only Japan's untouchable caste (burakumin 部落民) did gravedigging, and one reason why they were ostracized. It has been, ahem, a very long time indeed since burying one's family members would be considered normative behavior. For more on this and other interesting topics, see your favorite Japanese Civilization 101 textbook.
- ximeng 17y ago
  Before reading the textbook, maybe watch "Departures", the film mentioned in the article. I'd wager most people will find it to be easier going and more moving. Half the cinema was sniffling by the end when I saw it. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Departures_%28film%29 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Departures_%28film%29
dnsworks 17y ago
Japan got it's last hurrah of severed heads when it brutalized Nanking. I guess after Japan's devastating loss to America, who did not display the heads of our enemies, they accepted that their methods were sort of .. Barbaric?

dmlorenzetti 17y ago

This is not just in Japan. During heat waves, as observed for example in France (http://www.questia.com/googleScholar.qst?docId=5006569197 http://www.questia.com/googleScholar.qst?docId=5006569197) and Chicago (http://www.amazon.com/Heat-Wave-Autopsy-Disaster-Illinois/dp/0226443221 http://www.amazon.com/Heat-Wave-Autopsy-Disaster-Illinois/dp...), death tends to strike the socially isolated.