Japan Launches Its Version of the It Gets Better Project

It Gets Better Japan

Japan’s version of the It Gets Better Project will go live on this designated website September 10, 2012. Why is this date so crucial to the curators of the international project?

According to The Wall Street Journal: “[It] is the day of World Health Organization’s (WHO) World Suicide Prevention Day, and will aim to save as many sexual minority youth as possible by delivering our message that it’s OK,” said Fumino Sugiyama, a co-founder of the project.

According to the WHO: “World Suicide Prevention Day on 10 September promotes worldwide commitment and action to prevent suicides. On average, almost 3000 people commit suicide daily. For every person who completes a suicide, 20 or more may attempt to end their lives.”

The WHO’s mental health report regarding suicide prevention (last updated 2011)  ranks Japan at number seven in the world for countries with high suicide rates. Government reports show that 30,707 people committed suicide in Japan in 2009, about 24 per 100, 000 people. The rate in United States, as of 2007, was 11 for every 100,000. Suicide rates are highest for both men and women in Japan between the ages of 45 and 64.

Many Japanese celebrities have signed up for their country’s version, including novelist Ira Ishida and two-time Olympic fencing medalist Yuki Ota, while pop stars are preparing songs for the project, said Mr. Sugiyama.

The following is a snippet directly from the website – currently under construction.

English page will be available soon. I would like to tell people all over the world what it is like to be gay in Japan.

ゲイの男性などセクシャル・マイノリティーの人たちがカミングアウトした時のカミングアウト・ストーリーやイット・ゲッツ・ベター（It Gets Better）のメッセージ動画に、日本語字幕を付けてYouTubeにアップしてます。趣味として自分の楽しみのためにやってます。36歳、男、ゲイです。（横浜在住） http://www.youtube.com/user/ItGetsBetterJapan　←動画はこちらをチェック