Japan Suicide Forest

I've been doing a lot of online reading lately. I've read all sorts of things. What would happen is that I would read something from facebook trivia pages like What the F*ck facts and I'll be like: "There is no way that's true." Then I would google it and be proved wrong.

It's already happened more than once. I have turned my online time to reading time. I get all sorts of useless information. but these information can come in handy in conversations or when you're out on a date and you run out of topics. You could be like: "hey, did you hear about that guy who died and was devoured by his pet spiders?" 

Well, your date might be grossed out, but at least you have something to talk about. Anyway, I wanted to share something I found strange yet fascinating online. I read somewhere that there was this forest in the foot of Mt. Fuji in Japan where people go to take their lives. 

Naturally, I was skeptical so I googled it. I found that it was called Aokigahara Forest. A very popular place for people to come and take their lives. According to the internet, it was the second most popular place to commit suicide, right after the San Franciso Golden Gate Bridge. 

A noose used for suicide found inside Aokigahara Forest

Regular searches are conducted by the Japanese government to look for suicide victims in the forest. They even went on and posted signs on the entrance telling these people to get help and to think about what they are doing. 

A sign urging suicidal vistors to seek help.

As many as 100 people take their lives in this forest every year. Some bodies don't get discovered until they are nothing more than skeletal remains. Traces of people in the forest can be seen on the forest floor.
 as seen in these pictures taken by search parties, volunteers and journalists. 

I found the items to be depressing, but not as depressing as seeing the bodies. 








While I was looking at these pictures, I couldn't help but feel sad. Sad for these people who were feeling so down that they believed that death was the only exit. I read somewhere that when you commit suicide, you are not eliminating the pain, rather you are eliminating chances of getting better. 

What kind of lesson did I get by reading all about Aokigahara Forest? I learned that you should never let someone go through the darkness alone. And that you should be the friend who holds the light for them. Because in the darkness, they believe they are alone. Show them that they are not. Show them that someone cares. 

You could save a life just by listening. Just by being there. Be aware of your friend or family member's actions. Make sure that whatever hardships they go through, they don't have to go through it alone.




(Images from: Google)