Tokyo  - The number of suicides in Japan exceeded 30,000 in 2007 for the 10th year in a row, the National Police Agency said Thursday.

The number of suicides rose 2.9 per cent in 2007 to 33,093, which was the second highest in record, compared to a year before, an agency survey showed. The highest was recorded in 2003 at 34,427.

The agency said 26 per cent of suicides were triggered by depression, while others were caused by physical ailments and financial concerns from mounting debts.

Japan introduced the suicide prevention guidelines for the first time in June last year with an aim to reduce the suicide rate by more than 20 per cent by 2016.

But critics say that they have not been effective without any concrete measures.

The number of suicides committed by those aged 60 and up rose 8.9 per cent to 12,107 to be the highest among other age range.

Suicides by the youngest age bracket in the teens fell 12 per cent. (dpa)