#WorldatFive: “Kodokushi” — a lonely death — is an increasing feature of an ageing, urbanised Japanese society in which more and more people live and die alone and unnoticed, strangers even to their closest neighbours thetimes.co.uk/article/cleani…
The situation has been made all the more extreme by the pandemic, which has reduced contact even between people who were formerly close.
There are no national statistics or an agreed upon definition of kodokushi but the government counted 5,500 such deaths in central Tokyo in 2018, a 16 per cent increase on the previous year — and that was before the pandemic.
In 2005 the OECD found that among countries surveyed Japan had the highest proportion of men who “rarely or never spend time with friends, colleagues or others in social groups” — 17 per cent.
More and more people are living alone as “lifetime singles”. Projections suggest that by 2040 two fifths of households will consist of only one person.
Read the full story: thetimes.co.uk/article/cleani…

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More from @thetimes

19 Nov
EXCLUSIVE: Paul Dacre has pulled out of the race to become the next chairman of Ofcom thetimes.co.uk/article/ex-dai…
In a letter to The Times, he says: "If you are possessed of an independent mind and are unassociated with the liberal/left, you will have more chance of winning the lottery than getting the job"
He describes the BBC as a “great, civilising force” which he would “die in a ditch to defend” but added it needed to be “saved from both itself and the frighteningly well-resourced streaming giants”
Read 4 tweets
19 Nov
Philosophy professor Kathleen Stock’s views on the gender debate turned her into a hate figure at Sussex University. After three years of death threats and online abuse, the polarising academic resigned three weeks ago.

She talks to @VictoriaPeckham thetimes.co.uk/article/profes…
When the government launched its public consultation into reform of the Gender Recognition Act, Stock wrote a blog calling upon fellow philosophers to participate.

“I asked why they talk such a big game about being able to debate important things yet they can’t handle this.”
Stock believed erasing the material categories “male” and “female” had vast implications, especially for women.

“My bête noire is middle-class academics sitting around making decisions that impact on women in prison. It’s just so decadent.”
Read 12 tweets
19 Nov
Could you write an Adele song?

Every musician at the wrong end of a critical mauling has at one time or another said: if these critics think it’s so easy to write a song, let them try it.

So our pop critic @WillJHodgkinson did.
thetimes.co.uk/article/how-to…
"Adele’s voice makes grown men and women cry for its ability to capture emotional pain. My voice makes toddlers cry for its ability to cause physical pain."
"Adele’s songs have a sense of yearning, a sadness, yet they’re tinged with hope. In person she approaches global fame as though she’s having a laugh down the pub, but her songs deal with the big subjects: heartbreak, loneliness, growing up and facing the world."
Read 5 tweets
19 Nov
We speak to the actor about parenthood, anxiety, and his interest in playing the next James Bond.

“I hear they’re looking for a new Bond,” says Reynolds. “Could you accept a Canadian sipping gin and tonic instead of a martini? If so, I’m interested.” thetimes.co.uk/article/ryan-r…
As well as being a Hollywood star, the Vancouver-born actor also runs a business empire that includes a gin company and dating sites.

“I’m taking time off from making movies,” Reynolds says. “Next year I’ll work on my businesses, including Wrexham AFC.”
“I don’t mind if I’m called an entrepreneur rather than an actor.”
Read 6 tweets
19 Nov
Parts of Germany are facing “lockdown-lite” restrictions on their entire populations after Angela Merkel announced a deal that will also ban unvaccinated people from cafés, restaurants and other indoor public spaces across most of the country
thetimes.co.uk/article/corona…
The caretaker chancellor said the country was in a “highly dramatic” situation as a record 65,000 new cases were reported within 24 hours.

Her administration was stung into action after one of its most senior health officials warned of a “truly terrible” Christmas.
Professor Lothar Wieler, the head of the Robert Koch Institute, the national infectious diseases agency, accused ministers of failing to listen to the warnings that scientists have been issuing for months.
Read 6 tweets
18 Nov
Exclusive: Azeem Rafiq has apologised for using racial slurs in an exchange of messages with another cricketer, The Times can reveal. thetimes.co.uk/article/azeem-…
In a statement to The Times, the former Yorkshire cricketer, who has been praised for his courage in exposing institutionalised racism in the sport, said that he was 19 and was a “different person today”
Rafiq said: “I was sent an image of this exchange from early 2011 today. I have gone back to check my account and it is me - I have absolutely no excuses."

The texts appear to show Rafiq and former Leicestershire cricketer Ateeq Javid making anti-semitic comments.
Read 4 tweets

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