Assessing Men’s Mental Health in Japan: A Cross-Cultural Comparative Review Study

While there has been increased attention dedicated to men’s mental health in recent years, most of this research focuses on men in Western cultures. Cross-cultural comparisons of men’s mental health issues remain rare. Using a set of critical review publications on men’s mental health, this paper examines men’s mental health in Japan comparatively. In doing so, it shows that many of the critical mental health issues identified in western reviews also manifest in Japan. Additionally, this paper highlights culture-specific men’s mental health issues in Japan that are not as often observed in western research. The cross-cultural prevalence of these mental health issues has implications for mental health approaches, clinical practices, and wider theories about men’s mental health and masculinity.