Following a report on the alarmingly high rates of young child mortality in Japan (click here), the Department of Health Promotion and Research, National Institute of Public Health reported in August that although Japan prides itself on being one of the safest countries in the world, accidental death rates for infants and the elderly are higher than in most of 13 other developed countries.

Out of 14 countries surveyed, Japan ranked third highest for accidental infant deaths under one year, with 18.3 deaths per 1,000,000 versus the average of 10.6 per 1,000,000, more than 70% higher. In the 1 to 4 years old age group, Japan ranked fifth highest.

In the 55 to 64 age cohort, Japan had the fifth highest accidental death rate, in the 65 to 74 age bracket the third highest, and in over-75s, the sixth highest.

However, in the 5 to 54 age group, Japan ranked one of the lowest out of the 14 developed countries surveyed.

Causes of accidental death in Japan include falls, drowning, traffic accidents, and fire. Drowning is a very common cause of accidental death in Japan, perhaps because bath tubs are left full of water when not in use.