Suicide Forest

Through many of our discussions in class, the idea of nature being a stress reliever has been brought up countless times. Any time this is discussed, I always think of a documentary I watched some years back about Aokigahara, otherwise known as the Suicide Forest on Mount Fuji in Japan. In this 14 square mile patch of forest, there have been hundreds of suicides since the early 1900's. Signs outside of the entrance of the forest warn those thinking about committing the act, such as, "Your life is a precious gift from your parents!" and "Please consult the police before you decide to die!". The signs do not often deter those who are determined to end their life, and they continue on into the forest. The scenery is stunning, with Mount Fuji overlooking the incredibly dense forest, and it is very easy to get lost due to the denseness of the trees. The forest itself is said to have an overall eerie feeling, and it is always suspiciously quiet. Also to add to the creepiness, personal belongings are strewn throughout the forest and stand oddly out of place among the beautiful scenery.

The Japanese argue that Aokigahara holds the souls of those who die there, and  those trapped souls can beckon people from far and wide to kill themselves within the grips of the dense forest. Once someone commits suicide in Aokigahara, their soul joins the rest and they continue to try and recruit more. All of this is considered to be folklore, but some really do believe in the myth. Despite the myths, most argue that the stress and high standards of Japanese culture are often too much to manage, so they enter into the "Most beautiful place to die". The history behind Aokigahara is haunting, and the idea of so many ending their lives in the forest is heart breaking.

Harking back to the idea of nature being a stress reliever, I personally believe in the idea and it has helped me in times when I have felt down or stressed. Although it appears that those who enter Aokigahara have one goal in mind, I am certain that there have been many who have entered and reemerged after decompressing through the forest. The calming sense of stillness in nature can switch your perception on life, and I highly encourage those who do have troubles dealing with stress to take a walk through nature. Life will always get better, but for some of those who enter Aokigahara they see no future ahead of them.