Japan is facing a rising number of "lonely deaths," or people dying in isolation, despite government efforts to stem the tide. The issue has become such a part of modern society here that it even has its own term, "kodokushi" — making up close to 5% of Japan 's overall death rate. Statistics released by the government and police in late April showed that 76,941 people died "lonely deaths" across Japan in the 2025 fiscal year, which ended on March 31. That is 921 cases more than the previous