March 1, 2001

Japanese writer Wataru Tsurumi is under attack and facing the censorship of his book The Complete Manual of Suicide. The book has become a best-seller, but authorities have linked it to various teenage suicides. Tsurumi is unrepentant, and blames the rigidity of Japanese society for the despair of youth. "There is no concept of individuality in this country," he says, and accuses the Japanese culture of being stuck in the dark ages. "The modern era starts when people reject "witch-huntism'. However, Japan hasn't experienced a genuine transition from pre-modern to modern." Until that time, he has some words of advice: "Give up if the going gets too tough. Sleep when you are sleepy." (The Independent)