You might not associate the Land of the Rising Sun with depression – after all, the Japanese are often stereotyped as being stoic and reserved. However, like people in other nations, Japanese people also suffer from depression – and more and more are starting to come out and talk about their experiences.
There has been a lot of talk about mental health in the last few years. In particular, there has been a lot of focus on depression and how it can affect people. Let’s look at some Japanese celebrities who have come out about their depression. This should give us all a better understanding of what it’s like to live with depression and how we can support those struggling with their mental health.
1. Junichi Hirao
He opened up about his struggles with clinical depression and explained the stigma that is attached to being depressed. He has also urged others to be tolerant of those who are depressed and spoken about the importance of having a network of support when you are going through a difficult time. He was well known for his upbeat personality and died suddenly at 52. When he was taken to the hospital, he was diagnosed with a form of depression and was placed under medical supervision. The story of Junichi’s death and its impact on his friends and family went viral and helped reduce the stigma surrounding depression.
2. Miori Takimoto
Miori Takimoto is a Japanese singer and award-winning actress. She was born on October 16, 1991, in Tottori, Japan. She debuted in 2003 as a singer of the girl group named Sweets, where she performed under Miori. After Sweets was disbanded, she appeared on television as an actress. She has been diagnosed with clinical depression. She gave an overview of her experiences with depression, including what prompted her to start talking about her experiences and how she feels opening up about her experiences has helped others.
3. Kazuya Yoshii
Kazuya Yoshii is a Japanese singer and actor. He was born on October 8, 1966 (age 55) in Japan. He is best known for his roles in Uru in Blue and Danganronpa dramas. He had talked about his struggle with depression in the past and has since become an advocate for those who suffer from the condition. He has also worked with charities that aim to raise awareness and understanding of depression and works with other celebrities to do the same.
4. Haruka Ayase
Haruka Ayase was born on March 24,1985. Her name at birth was Aya Tademaru. She is a Japanese actress and singer. When she won the 25th HORIPRO Talent Scout Caravan Grand Prix, she was now her stage name. In 2017, she launched her song "Mental Health Is Okay." The song is about her experiences with depression, and she has talked about her struggles with the condition in the past. She now helps others who also suffer from depression while doing charities by raising awareness towards it.
5. Ryohei Otani
Ryohei Otani was born on October 1, 1980. He is a Japanese actor and model. He starred in various Drama series and TV shows for which he won many awards. He was also suffering from depression. During the depression, he showed passive-aggressive behavior and anxiety, and he struggled to cope with stress. He talked about all of these in his interviews. He also worked in various organizations regarding Depression and Anxiety, where he gave a speech on coping with negative thoughts and depression.
6. Masaharu Fukuyama
Masaharu Fukuyama was born on Feburary6,1969 . He is a musician, singer-songwriter, music producer, actor, radio personality, and photographer from Japan. With the single "Tsuioku no Ame no Naka," Fukuyama completed his debut in 1990. He spoke about his experience with depression and anxiety on Japanese talk shows. Eventually, he came out to the public in a moving interview with the Japanese news outlet The Asahi Shimbun. He explained that he felt a strong sense of isolation when he was experiencing depression and that the hope and support of his loved ones was the thing that got him through. He also hopes that by sharing his story, he can help others who are going through a similar struggle.
7. Tatsuya Fujiwara
Tatsuya Fujiwara was born May 15,1982.He is famous for Battle Royale (2000), Death Note (2006), and Battle Royale II (2003). He has said that being in the spotlight when he was young made him feel like he had to live up to a certain image of masculinity, leading to him developing severe social anxiety. After coming out as gay in his early 20s, however, he realized that he didn't have to be defined by his celebrity status and could speak up about his issues without fear of ridiculing. The ability to be yourself and not worry about what other people think is a luxury few people ever experience and shouldn't be taken for granted.
8. Hideaki Tokura
A professional race car driver and actor, Hideaki Tokura has competed in the Super GT and Top Gear Great Britain races and appeared in commercials and TV shows for companies such as Nissan and Kirin Ichiban. He has talked openly about his experiences with depression. He has said that he has been in treatment for the condition since he was a teenager and relies on his family and friends for support when he is feeling down. He has also talked about the social stigma associated with depression and has urged others to be tolerant of those who are depressed.
9. Hideaki Takahashi
Hideaki Takahashi was born on February 10,1944. He is an actor on the board of RPA Holdings, Inc. He was earlier the Senior Vice President for NCR Corp., Chairman at NCR Japan Ltd., Representative Director and Deputy President at Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd., and Professor at Kei.
He shared his struggles with depression, describing several instances in which he had to lie down and put on a mask to avoid talking to others. He also spoke about the feelings of worthlessness and despair that can come with depression and the impact that the condition can have on one’s personal and professional life.
10. Tadanobu Asano
Tadanobu Asano was born on November 27, 1973. He is a Japanese actor and musician, most prominent for his roles as Dragon Eye Morrison in Electric Dragon 80.000 V . He is known for his role in the Netflix series Flaked. He has spoken openly about his experiences with depression. He has urged others to be tolerant of those who are depressed and talked about the importance of having a support network during a difficult time.
As you can see, there is still a long way to go when addressing depression in Japan. But this is the right step in a positive direction. By reducing the stigma surrounding depression, it can help to increase the amount of support that is available to those who are struggling to cope. One in five people in Japan will experience depression in their lifetime, which is quite high when considering the country’s overall population.
