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The Japanese
now has a "minister of loneliness". It is the
time Japan has had such a minister. Japan's Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga created the
in early February. He asked Tetsushi Sakamoto to fill the
position. Mr Suga wanted to do
about the rise in suicide cases. The
of people taking their own lives has risen during the
. Japan's National Police Agency showed that 20,919 people died by
in 2020. This is 750 more than the previous year. It is also the first
rise in suicides in 11 years. Mr Sakamoto told reporters: "I hope to promote activities that prevent loneliness and social isolation and to improve the
between people."
