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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