Photo/Illutration A worker at a special cleaning service stands in one room of a public housing complex in Osaka Prefecture on Oct. 16 where a woman died alone. (Takuya Tanabe)

Loneliness is worse for one's health than smoking 15 cigarettes a day.

In Britain, it also causes damage equivalent to 4.8 trillion yen ($41.81 billion), according to British estimates cited in "Kodoku wa Shakai Mondai" (Loneliness is a social issue), a book recently published by freelance journalist Mikiko Taga.

Britain is said to be actively promoting public and private campaigns against loneliness.

For example, there was an elderly woman whose wish was "to be arrested, just for once." The local police force obliged by handcuffing her and driving her around the neighborhood in a patrol car. "Super" was the thoroughly satisfied lady's reaction.

A movement called "Men's Shed" for retired seniors has proven highly popular. The "sheds" are workshops where participants handmake school playground equipment and chairs for public parks, but the main purpose is to provide the elderly with opportunities to rejoin society.

There are close to 600 sheds around Britain now. This is no surprise for the nation that became the first in the world to create the post of "minister of loneliness."

Following the British example by appointing a state minister of loneliness, Japan on Dec. 28 announced a strategic program.

Help desks will be established for the elderly and poor, as well as troubled children.

"Loneliness and isolation can befall anyone, including myself," said Seiko Noda, the state minister who is heading Japan's loneliness initiative. 

Poet Takiko Ueda (1896-1988) penned a piece to the effect that the sun "cloaks" the cruelty of all forms of loneliness on Earth.

Whichever country we live in, we are all destined to stand on the precipice of loneliness someday.

Taga herself experienced the loss of her spouse and later recalled, "Loneliness was hell."

The year’s end is just around the corner. I believe many people are cringing with loneliness amid the pandemic, unable to be together with their lovers, friends or family.

I hope the government's policy will not taper off. I pray it will bring solace to people who really need it.

--The Asahi Shimbun, Dec. 29

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Vox Populi, Vox Dei is a popular daily column that takes up a wide range of topics, including culture, arts and social trends and developments. Written by veteran Asahi Shimbun writers, the column provides useful perspectives on and insights into contemporary Japan and its culture.

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