JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Death is a difficult topic to discuss for many people. Notwithstanding, there is much to know about what contemporary Japanese consider a good (peaceful) death. Particularly after the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, shifts in public perceptions of death should be considered by healthcare staff in the end-of-life.

Objective:

This study examined recent representation of peaceful death in Japanese YouTube to understand related narratives and family structures.

Methods:

The authors examined 457 YouTube videos about peaceful death through content and family network analysis. We classified the videos into three groups: ordinary people, celebrities and fictional characters.

Results:

We identified emerging medical actors discussing the end-of-life with the public and uncovered a gender bias in the representation of death among celebrities and fictional characters. Moreover, many peaceful death narratives involved young adults and illness, which challenges conventional assumptions.

Conclusions:

The current image of Japan as a non-religious nation, and the gender bias in Japanese media should be challenged. Further, healthcare and research protocols related to end-of-life for patients beyond the elderly should be developed.