Dear All!
When I discuss dignity and humiliation in Japan, one of the following points is usually brought up as having some kind of relevance:

1. the hikikomori phenomenon (ca. one million people, mostly young men, hiding)
2. ijime (bullying)
3. the high suicide rate
4. the depression of Princess Masako
5. work by Bin Kimura (psychopathologie phénoménologique)

Please see further down the link to a text discussing the high suicide rate. I thank Judit Revesz for making me aware of this text.
Most warmly,
Evelin

Japan Suicides Reach Record High
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/3919775.stm
with the kind permission of the BBC.