This article contrasts American & Japanese attitudes towards depression & suicide. This article also examines treatment methods for depression & suicide in Japan. The author notes that Japanese society often attaches a stigma to psychiatric disorders, as such Japanese families often do not acknowledge that a family member is suffering from mental illness. The article also examines the practice of harakiri & oyako-shinju as methods of suicide. Role narcissism & infanticide are examined within the article as elements of harakiri and oyako-shinju. (14 refs.) (AK)