A dairy farmer near a damaged Japanese nuclear power station killed himself after losing business in the wake of the accident at the plant, local media reported Tuesday, DPA reported.
The man, in his 50s, reportedly hanged himself in a barn, leaving a note saying "If only there were no nuclear power plant."
The Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant in north-eastern Japan has been leaking radiation since it was damaged by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami.
The farmer, who lived in Soma city, 42 kilometres north of the plant, had dumped all the milk from his cows after shipments of raw milk in the area had been suspended until April 21.
The man reportedly told acquaintances he was concerned about the future of his dairy farming business, the Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper reported. He said he believed he would not be eligible for government compensation payments as his farm was located outside the immediate crisis area.
"I lost my will to work. For those of you still in dairy farming, don't let the nuclear plant get you down," the note said.