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

The police agency [report / reported] that there has been a much bigger rise in suicides [among / between] women and young people. Prime Minister Suga said women have been [struggled / struggling] with loneliness since the coronavirus pandemic started in early 2020. He [tell / told] reporters: "Women are suffering from isolation more than men [be / are] , and the number of suicides is on a rising [trend / trendy] ." There has been a 70 per cent year-on-year increase in the number of women taking their own [living / lives] . Yoko Suzuki, a 23-year-old [designing / designer] who lives in Tokyo, said she has suffered from loneliness [for / since] coronavirus started. She said: "Not seeing people smile behind their mask makes me sad and lonely." She added: "I want to see [happily / happy] faces."