Actress Yuko Tekuchi’s death follows recent cases of Japanese celebrities taking their own lives.
Following the death of the popular actress on Sunday, the Japanese government is urging people to seek help if they are struggling to cope.
The country has been shocked by the death of 40-year-old Miss Sherlock star Yuko Tekuchi and is followed by other cases of Japanese celebrities taking their own lives, with a recent rise in suicides.
On Monday, Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato did not mention any special case but noted that some people were struggling to cope during the coronavirus crisis.
There has been an increase in suicide cases since July. We have to accept the fact that many people are ending their precious lives, ”he said.
Kato, who was Japan’s health minister until earlier this month, urged people to use the suicide-prevention hotline and other services.
Tekuchi was a household name in Japan. She starred in the 2018 series Miss Sherlock on the Hulu-HBO Asia Network, and was also part of the 1998 Japanese Horror Classic ring.
She gave birth to her second child in January.
“It came suddenly, and we were all stunned and saddened by the news,” Stardust Promotion Inc., its talent agency, told the Japan Times.
Tekuchi has received numerous awards during her career, including the Japan Movie Critics Award for Best Actress.
In early September, another popular Japanese actress, Sei Ashina, died in an apparent suicide. In July, actor Haruma Miura is also believed to have taken his own life.
In May, Netflix show Terrace House’s 22-year-old reality TV show star Hannah Kimura also died following an apparent abuse online making headlines internationally.
About 1,900 suicides were reported in Japan last month, an increase of 15 percent compared to the same month last year.
The number of suicides in Japan dropped in the first half of this year. In 2019, the figure went to record lows, thanks to increased efforts by non-governmental groups to address the issue.
