TOKYO, Jan 15: A Japanese man who was laid off from his job apparently starved to death in his apartment as Asia’s richest nation goes through a painful economic downturn, a news report said on Thursday.

The 49-year-old man in the western metropolis of Osaka was believed to have lost a temporary-contract job a year ago and died alone at his home, the TBS television network reported.

Asked about the report, an Osaka police spokesman confirmed the man died but said he could not provide details as his death was not believed to be crime-related.

The TBS network interviewed the manager of the man’s apartment who said he was believed to have died of hunger.

“There was nothing in his refrigerator — nothing,” the manager said.

The broadcaster said that an autopsy found that there was no food in the man’s stomach, suggesting he had died of hunger a month ago. It did not release his name or former employer.

The man had apparently failed to pay his monthly rent of 39,000 yen ($439) for three months, it said. Osaka, along with Tokyo, has some of the world’s most expensive rental accommodation.

Japan has fallen into recession as the global economic downturn hits demand overseas for its cars, electronics and other exports.

At least 85,000 temporary workers have been laid off or can expect to lose their jobs by March, according to the government. Temporary workers lack the job guarantees traditionally enjoyed by Japan’s company employees.

Such starvation cases are not unheard of in Japan, where many people are turned down or are too ashamed to seek welfare benefits from the government.

In 2007, a man cut off from welfare payments starved to death in the western city of Kitakyushu. Japan was shocked after the release of his diary in which he wrote of dreaming to eat a rice ball, a common inexpensive snack.—AFP