In the first quarter, Japan reported almost 22,000 people passing away at home without anyone knowing, with predictions that this number could rise to 68,000 each year. This information was released by the Japanese National Police Agency (NPA) on May 13, who provided data on lonely deaths for the first time. These deaths are mostly individuals over the age of 65.
Lonely deaths previously went unrecorded in 70% of residential areas in Japan, with 85% lacking a clear definition of the phenomenon. The definition of koritsushi, published in December 2023, describes it as dying without anyone knowing and the body being found after a certain period of time. With Japan’s aging population and the increase in single-person households, this situation may become more common in the future.
The term “koritsushi” (death alone) has been known in Japan since the 1995 Kobe earthquake disaster, when many elderly people were forced to leave their communities and live in temporary housing, leading some to isolate themselves. Experts attribute the cause of these lonely deaths to memory and mental health problems and emphasize the importance of finding ways to support the elderly even when they refuse care. The impact of these deaths on family and neighbors also needs to be considered.
Based on new data from Japan’s National Police Agency (NPA), up to 68,000 elderly people could be dying alone at home each year due to self-isolation and self-neglect. With an aging population and an increase in single-person households, this situation may become more common in Japan in future years. The Japanese government established an expert group in August 2023 to study lonely deaths and develop necessary response measures.
