“Life is a precious gift given to you by your parents. Quietly think once more about your parents, siblings or children. Please don’t suffer alone, and first reach out.”
- The Entrance to Aokigahara Forest
Please beware that this episode contains information that is both sensitive and disturbing regarding suicide and mental health. Sadly, there were many photos out there of very disturbing things that took place in this forest and I will NOT be posting any of them here. These people died in horrible ways and deserve respect.
To start off, I want to say that doing research for this Episode was extremely emotional. While trying to search for photographs, I came across many images of those who had taken their own life. It literally caused my heart to ache. Thinking that these poor people's lives....their memories have all been summed up in a single image for the world to see. For their family to see. Who was this person? Did they have no friends? No loved ones? What drove them to feel so lost and hopeless that they took their own life in such a lonely place?
I decided to continue and complete the blog in hopes that if there is anyone who is reading this and feels they are alone, that if you want to take your own life....there is help out there! There will always be someone out there...just reach out....We will listen.
The Forest
Across the world in Japan (Narusawa, Fujikawaguchiko, Minamitsuru District to be exact), is the forest Aokigahara, also known as the Sea of Trees (Jukai). The forest is on the northwestern flank of Mount Fuji (roughly 2 hours outside of Tokyo) and oddly thrives on over 30 square kilometers of hardened lava created by the last major eruption of the mountain. The forest also contains more than 200 caves. Two of which are named The Ice Cave (there is ice it in year-round) and The Wind Cave (Strong, loud winds).
The forest is vast and the dense lava absorbs sound giving visitors the feeling of solitude and silence. Even with all its beauty, Aokigahara is now known as “The Suicide Forest” and has sadly become known as the primary location in Japan to commit suicide. The tree coverage is so thick that even at the brightest time of the day you cannot see direct light in the forest and due to the iron in the volcanic soil, compasses and cell phones are often interfered with or interrupted completely.
This forest is considered by many as “the perfect place to die” as it contains hardly any wildlife and is very difficult to recover your bearings once you wander from the main path. They say there are only 3 types of the people who enter those woods. The Trekkers (those who help recover bodies), the Curious (thrill seekers) and those who sadly plan a one-way trip.
In 2003, 105 bodies were recovered from the forest, a huge increase from 2002 where 78 victims were recovered. In 2010, police records indicate more then 200 people attempted suicide in the woods. Of that 200, 54 were successful. In more recent years, police have stopped releasing the number of bodies they recover from the forest in order to stop publicizing the deaths that continue to take place.
The most popular method of suicide in the forest are hangings followed by poisoning and drug overdoses. The month with the largest number of suicides is March due to this being the end if the fiscal year in Japan.
Although still considered tragic, suicide is viewed differently in Japan and does not have the same stigma as in North America. Due to religious reasons, many North American's believe to take your own life will result in not being admitted into Heaven. In Japan, in the days of the Samurai, if one was dishonored, suicide (Seppuku) was the appropriate way to rectify the situation. It was considered an honorable way to die. This ritual continued even into World War 2 as seen with Kamikaze soldiers. These men were will to die for their country, willingly sacrificing themselves for honor.
A famed Japanese psychiatrist who intercepted several suicides, interviewed the would-be victims and when asked why they came to the forest to commit suicide, a common response was “they believed they would be able to die successfully without being noticed”. They also claimed they wanted to be in a place where many before them had felt the same way and had come to the same decision to take their own life.
Searches occur (lead by volunteers) each year in order the help police comb the forest for not only victims but those who are camping out in the woods considering suicide. Volunteers have even place signs throughout the main trails asking potential victims to think about their friends and loved ones and to seek out help if they are considering killing themselves.
During these “prevention and recovery” missions, the volunteers use large amounts of string or tape to ensure they do not get separated or lost. The forest is so large and dense that it is easy to wander of the trail, enter the woods and never find your way back out again.
The Hauntings
Many in Japan believe that this forest is haunted and is now home to the Yurei. These are the spirits of those who are barred from a peaceful afterlife. They are said to be so full of sadness, anger and hatred that they want to seek revenge on those who enter into the space where they lost their lives. According to the legends (“Ubasute”, translating to “abandoning the old woman”), it is said that during times of famine, families who could not afford to feed all their family members would bring them to the forest and and leave them there. The family member would eventually die of dehydration and starvation. The anger, betrayal and sadness they felt during their death would then allow them to become a Yurei.
Unlike in western culture where it is said that spirits want to accomplish something, Yurei are believed to want nothing in particular. They are left to wander until their curse is removed or conflict is resolved.
The believe of the Yurei continue to this day. When a body is removed from the forest, before going to the authorities, those who recovered the body will place it in a room next to the forest where it is said the Yurei will move around continue to scream until the unlucky person comes to retrieve the body.
People believe so strongly that the forest is inhabited by demons, that many will not enter out of fear.
There have been many stories of unusual and paranormal things occurring the in the woods. There are those who have entered the forest, using tape to mark their path, they have stated that they have had their tape cut. They believe the spirits haunting the forest have deliberately cut the tape to ensure they get lost in the forest and die.
A writer for a Japanese newspaper had reported hearing unnatural, terrified screams coming from the throughout the forest. He attempted to located the screams and then came across the decomposing body of a man laying at the base of a tree. The writer believes the screams may have been this man, now in Yurei form, now screaming in torment.
Another common occurrence in the forest is what takes place after dark. Many witnesses and even a paranormal investigation team from the SyFy Channel (Destination Truth) have documented these events. These people claim to have seen white apparitions moving throughout the woods. Many believe these are the spirits of the Yurei. There are even urban legends of the bodies of the dead rising from caves to walk the woods after dark.
Many who have also found abandoned items from victims say that to take an item is to be cursed. People state listening to a found cassette tape or Cd will bring about terrible suffering and curses.
Visitors have claimed that after visiting the woods to become ill, depressed, heard voices and even seen dark shadow figures surrounding their vehicles when they try to leave the forest.
Buddhist monks have even set up alters throughout the forest to combat the evil they believe is not only haunting the woods but luring people there to die. A Buddhist monk named Kyomyo Fukui was visiting the forest to set up an altar. He told “The New Zealand Herald” the following;"The spirits are calling people here to kill themselves. The spirits of the people who have committed suicide before."
Of all of the places I have researched so far, this has been the only one I would never visit. I believe the dark, tragic energy of these spirits create such a dangerous atmosphere that it would be a mistake to enter those woods.
Even more dangerous for people like me who have a very strong connection to the paranormal.
I felt such an overwhelming sadness and depression as I researched but in particular, when I viewed the images. Not just of the victims, but the forest in general. I truly felt like I was touching something darker than I have felt in a while. There was even activity in my home every time I tried to add to this research. Several objects fell off shelves in the spare bedroom and I heard footsteps in the kitchen during two different writing sessions.
I have decided after these incidents to not continue any further research and will end this blog here.
Thank you for taking the time to read this.
(All images used belong to the original photographers and copyright owners)
댓글