OBJECTIVE - To examine the relationship between depressive symptoms and the incidence of type 2 diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS - In 1984, 2,764 male employees of an electrical company in Japan completed a self- administered questionnaire including the Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS). They were followed for the next 8 years, and 2,380 (86%) responded to the follow-up survey in 1992. During the follow-up survey, occurrence of type 2 diabetes was diagnosed according to World Health Organization criteria. RESULTS - A total of 41 cases of type 2 diabetes were identified during the 8-year followup survey. After controlling for other known risk factors for type 2 diabetes, a proportional hazard analysis indicated that subjects who had moderate or severe levels of depressive symptoms (≥48 on the SDS) at baseline had a 2.3 times higher risk of having type 2 diabetes at the follow- up survey than those who were not depressed (≤39 on the SDS) (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS - Depressive symptoms may be associated with the onset of type 2 diabetes.