Kodokushi

Kodokushi (Japanese孤独 死, dt " lonely death " or " lonely death " ) refers to the decease of mostly lonely people, where the death goes unnoticed a long time. The body of the deceased is often undetected for months or years, as the person will not be missed.

The term was coined Kodokushi in Japan in the 1980s. The high number of people living in social isolation also meant that deaths were not noticed. After Yoko Kadoya two characteristic features of Kodokushi can be identified:

• Especially middle and senior -aged men are affected by the phenomenon. In women at higher age Kodokushi other hand, is more likely. Not only in Japan, men spend a lot of time at work and have little to other people outside the family contact. For lack of social competence retirement from professional life can also lead to social isolation.
• Often Kodokushi occurs in conjunction with other social problems such as alcoholism or compulsive hoarding.