Japan's Ministry of Loneliness, UAE's Ministry of Happiness: A look at some offbeat govt posts

The lack of social gatherings is increasingly causing stress and loneliness, leading to a spike in suicides in Japan.

On February 12, the Yoshihide Suga government decided to take this head on and appointed regional revitalization minister Tetsushi Sakamoto as the Minister of Loneliness.

Sakamoto will coordinate efforts across multiple agencies to address issues related to loneliness and isolation. In 2018, the UK had appointed a minister of loneliness for similar issues.

Here are a couple of emerging ministries.

Ministry of Happiness
The UAE had in 2016 created the post of Minister of State for Happiness and appointed Her Excellency Ohood bint Khalfan Al Roumi as the minister. It also launched a National Programme for Happiness and Positivity to promote wellbeing and happiness as a lifestyle.

Ministry of Toilets
Japan also appointed a minister of loos. In 2014-15, women’s empowerment minister Haruko Arimura got the unofficial title of minister of toilets. The responsibility included improving public toilets, which was seen as a major push toward women’s advancement. “Women are unable to bring themselves to enter filthy toilets in public parks. To enable women who work outside the home to thrive, it’s necessary to improve them,” Arimura is quoted as instructing officials.