TOKYO - Japan aims to cut suicides by 30 percent over 10 years, with the government on Tuesday approving a plan that seeks to curb extreme work hours seen as contributing to one of the world's highest suicide rates.

Japan has the highest suicide rate among G7 countries and the government describes the situation as "critical" in a country where more than 20,000 people kill themselves every year.

The suicide rate - the ratio per 100,000 people - was 18.5 in 2015 and the government wants to reduce it below 13 in 2025.