Who is Yusuke Narita? Yale professor offers SHOCKING solution for Japan's agein population problem
Warning: Graphic content, readers’ discretion advised. If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the National Suicide Hotline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT: A Japanese professor at Yale University proposed mass suicide and disembowelment to address Japan's rapidly aging population. In an online news broadcast in late 2021, Yusuke Narita, when asked how to deal with the problems and burdens of Japan's aging society, made the following comments, "I feel like the only solution is pretty clear. In the end, isn't it mass suicide and mass 'seppuku' of the elderly?" Seppuku was a ritual disembowelment imposed in 19th century Japan on samurai who had brought shame upon themselves.
Recently, Narita defended his views, saying he had been "taken out of context" and had opposed, in particular, the growing effort to push the oldest people out of leadership positions in business and politics to make room for younger generations, according to The New York Times. But he has also said that euthanasia could become mandatory in the future, causing widespread public outrage.
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A video clip from last year shows Narita vividly describing to a group of students a scene from the 2019 horror film 'Midsommar,' in which a Swedish cult sends one of its oldest members to commit suicide by jumping off a cliff when a boy asks him to explain more about his views on mass suicide and disembowelment. "Whether that's a good thing or not that's a more difficult question to answer," Narita said. "So if you think that's good, then maybe you can work hard towards creating a society like that," he added.
Who is Yusuke Narita?
Yusuke Narita is an assistant professor of economics at Yale. He conducts research on the design of decision-making algorithms in policy and business, with a particular interest in education policy. Narita received his doctorate from MIT and was formerly a visiting professor at Stanford University. Although Narita's comments angered many people, they also provided him with an audience. His Twitter account, with the bio, "The things you're told you're not allowed to say are usually true," has more than 569,000 followers. He frequently appears in Japanese media, dressed casually and sharing his views. He also spreads his message through comedy shows, energy drink commercials, and even TikTok impressionists.
Japan's aging population
Japan's biggest concern at the moment is its low birth rate. Last year, the country's population shrank by more than 600,000 people, due to declining birth rates and a rapidly aging population. According to Japan's Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, the population declined for the eleventh consecutive year, falling by 644,000. Death rates also outpaced birth rates, leading to a decline in the overall population. A group of critics warns that Narita could influence public policy and social norms, given the current situation in Japan and its popularity.