re: One Japanese suicide every 15 minutes
Scandinavian countries have a very high rate of alcoholism, and alcoholics are at high risk for suicide either drunk or sober.
My guess regarding Japan is that the very high standards they have are coupled with a cultural view of suicide as an honorable way out of a dishonorable situation. I don't think that as a rule they place as high a value of their individual lives as the Western cultures.
In the West dying is viewed as a complete catastrophe, even among Christians whom I would think would look forward to it.
Arf