일본 고독사 통계에관한 연구

초록

This study systematically analyzes the escalating phenomenon of “kodokushi” (lonely death) in Japan, focusing on statistical trends and gender disparities. Despite the absence of official nationwide statistics, substitute datasets—including the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare’s “Deaths Without Attendance” (R98), Tokyo Metropolitan Medical Examiner Office data, and the National Police Agency’s new “isolated death” statistics from 2024—reveal consistent patterns. Both long –term (1996–2023 R98) and regional (2003–2021 Tokyo data) sources indicate rapid, continuous growth in kodokushi cases, with men comprising over 70–80% of victims. The 2024 police statistics confirm this gender gap, showing 79.4% of delayed discoveries (over 8 days post–mortem) are male. Findings highlight kodokushi’s roots in structural changes like rapid aging, solo households, and family dissolution, with middle–aged and elderly men facing heightened risk. The study emphasizes the urgent need for gender–sensitive policy interventions to address this deepening social issue in Japan.

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