AOKIGAHARA & SUICIDE IN JAPAN

Presenter: Rundi Guo 7/9/15

AOKIGAHARA 青木ヶ原Base of Mt. Fuji, ~100 mi west of Tokyo

35 km2 (14 mile2)

known as jukai “Sea of Trees” due to its high density

Barely any wildlife quiet

Popular destination for locals and tourists

AOKIGAHARA & SUICIDE

“Suicide Forest”

Most popular in Japan, 2nd popular suicide place in the world

~100 suicides every year

AOKIGAHARA & SUICIDE

Associated with death and demons in Japanese mythology,

“haunted forest”• Historically, popular site for ubasute (abandoning of elderly)

Frequently appear in media: • “Tower of Waves” (Seicho Matsumoto)

• Described it as “perfect place for suicide”

SUICIDE IN JAPAN

Significant national problem• ~70 each day• 23 in 100,000 deaths (39 in 100,000 in

Yamanashi prefecture)• Men 2* more likely• Leading cause of death in men aged 20-44,

and in women aged 15-34

REASONS

Social• Unemployment; financial pressure; school / work stress• Mental illness epidemic (highly stigmatized)

Cultural • Ideology of being quiet, shy, and emotionless; reticent mask• Collectivist culture; conformity valued above individuality, ones

worth associated with other’s perception; “amae”

Historical• Glorification of suicides; tradition of ritual suicides (seppuku);

suicide pack (Shinjuu)• Absence of religious taboo more societal acceptance

Thoughts?Comments?Questions?

REFERENCES

http://www.japanzine.jp/article/jz/957/the-suicide-woods-of-mt-fuji

http://www.aokigaharaforest.com/

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2012/05/09/news/suicide-forest-helps-skew-yamanashis-statistics/?+japantimes+(The+Japan+Times%253A+All+Stories)#.VZ0ruROqqko

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2011/06/26/general/inside-japans-suicide-forest/#.VZ0ufhOqqko

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aokigahara

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suicide_in_Japan

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2008/jun/19/japan1

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seppuku