#aokigahara

[morbidology]

Aokigahara, also known as the "Sea of Trees," is a dense forest located at the northwest base of Mount Fuji in Japan. It spans approximately 35 square kilometers and is renowned for its lush greenery, serene atmosphere, and the eerie silence that permeates the area. Despite its natural beauty, Aokigahara is infamously known as the "Suicide Forest" due to the high number of suicides that occur within its depths.

Aokigahara's origins date back to ancient times, when lava flows from Mount Fuji's eruptions formed the forest's unique landscape. The forest's dense foliage and twisted tree roots create a labyrinth-like environment, making it easy for visitors to lose their way. The forest floor is covered with volcanic rock, which absorbs sound and contributes to the profound silence that characterizes Aokigahara.

Aokigahara has long been associated with Japanese folklore and legends. It is believed to be haunted by yūrei, or spirits of the dead, who are said to be trapped in the forest due to their tragic and untimely deaths. These spirits are thought to manifest as ghostly apparitions, leading some to describe Aokigahara as one of the most haunted places in Japan and even the world.

The forest's dark reputation is further fueled by tales of ubasute, an ancient practice where elderly or infirm individuals were abandoned in remote locations to die. Although historical evidence for ubasute in Aokigahara is limited, the legend persists and adds to the forest's eerie mystique.

Aokigahara's association with suicide dates back to the 1960s, when the forest gained notoriety as a site for people to end their lives. Each year, numerous individuals travel to Aokigahara with the intention of taking their own lives, making it one of the most infamous suicide hotspots in the world. The exact number of suicides is difficult to determine, as authorities have stopped publicizing the figures to prevent copycat incidents.

The forest's dense vegetation and remote location provide a secluded environment, attracting those who seek solitude in their final moments. Personal belongings, makeshift tents, and signs urging individuals to reconsider their actions are often found scattered throughout the forest, serving as haunting reminders of the lives lost.

[psicochurroz]

[k-i-l-l-e-r-b-e-e-6-9]

[mossesmoth]

[hairless]

devon aoki in betsey johnson

[eerieluzt]

Suicide Forest

The forest has a historical reputation as a home to yūrei: ghosts of the dead in Japanese mythology. At least since the 1960s, Aokigahara has become associated with suicide, eventually becoming known in English by the nickname "Suicide Forest" and gaining a reputation as one of the world's most-used suicide sites. If visiting the Aokigahara Forest, it's recommended not to go alone. Tourists visiting often reported feeling very ill all of a sudden while inside the forest or had an overwhelming urge to kill themselves, even those without mental illness such as depression.

[epellucid]

via

[rastronomicals]

1:51 AM EDT August 21, 2024:

Harakiri for the Sky - "Homecoming Denied" From the album Aokigahara (April 21, 2014)

Last song scrobbled from iTunes at Last.fm

'Aokigahara' is the suicide forest located on Mt. Fuji's northwest face, so I'll call this actually rather bright-sounding material 'atmospheric' rather than 'depressive.' You know, just to balance the karma a little.

File under: Atmospheric Black Metal

[unknownworlds4]

Aokigahara Forest, Japan. Aokigahara is forest located in Yamanashi Prefecture on the island of Honshu, Japan. It is on the Northwestern flank of Mount Fuji. It’s also known as the “Sea of Trees”. Although it’s a popular destination for tourists, the forest is historically associated as a popular destination for suicides, earning it the nickname “Suicide Forest”. Every year, dozens of people venture into the forest with the intention of taking their own lives. Some claim it’s between 30 to 100 each year. It’s gotten to the point where the government had stopped publishing the statistics in order to prevent further deaths. Signs have been posted along the trails encouraging those considering ending their own lives to think of their families and call a suicide prevention association. Every year, teams are assembled to comb the forest for bodies.

Japan has a long tradition of suicide as an honorable practice. For example, Samurai practiced seppuku - a ritualistic suicide method by plunging a blade into their abdomen and disemboweling themselves, followed by decapitation as an act of mercy. Samurai performed this to prevent themselves being taken prisoner or restore lost honor. According to folklore, the forest was also used in the practice of Ubasute. This was practice of taking an elderly relative into the wilderness during times of hardship or famine and abandon them to the elements, where they would die of exposure or starvation. There is, however, no evidence that this ritual was actually practiced. Suicide rates in Japan spiked during the financial crisis in 2008, and have risen again in recent years. The most common method used in the forest is hanging. According to legend, Aokigahara is also haunted. It’s said that the forest is inhabited by yūrei - vengeful and evil spirits of the dead who lure travelers off of the path and lead them to get lost and disoriented, or encourage them to take their own lives. They are said to be the ghosts of suicide or ubasute victims. According to myth, Yūrei are created if a person dies a sudden or violent death, dies with strong negative feelings like rage or depression, or is not buried properly.

Adding to tense atmosphere, is the condition of the forest itself. It’s very easy to get lost in the forest. The trees are incredibly dense in some places, and the ground consists of porous lava rock that absorbs sound, making it both very quiet and difficult for sound to travel. It gives this place a very isolated feeling. The soil has a high iron content that interferes with GPS and cell phone signals. There are some who claim that compasses have malfunctioned and only spun in circles. This, however, is regarded as false. The dense foliage can block light from reaching the forest floor, hiding rocks and roots from view.

If you, or anyone you know, is considering suicide, please know that you are not alone out there. There are people who can help you. If you’re considering taking your own life please contact a suicide prevention helpline. Numbers for various crisis hotlines can be found below. Help is out there.

United States: 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, 988; Trans Lifeline, 1-877-565-8860; The Trevor Project, 1-866-488-7386; Veterans Crisis Line, 988 press 1

United Kingdom & Ireland: Samaritans, 116 123

Canada: Talk Suicide, 1-833-456-4566; Trans Lifeline, 1-877-330-6366

Australia: Lifeline, 13 11 14

New Zealand: Samaritans, 0800 72 66 66

Japan: TELL Japan, 03-5774-0992; Childline Japan, 0102-99-7777

[jovialcupcakenerd]

Aokigahara; David Seidmann

[graveshorror]

The Ghosts of Aokigahara Forest

Japan's Aokigahara Forest, known as the "Suicide Forest," is home to countless lost souls. Tread carefully, lest you stumble upon the remnants of tragedy.

[connectparanormal]

Most Haunted Forests in the World

For a long time, stories about the paranormal have found their ideal setting in forests, with their thick canopy and eerie depths. Some of the world's most haunted woodlands are particularly notable because of their spooky reputations and the eerie folklore surrounding them. Japan's Aokigahara, sometimes referred to as the Suicide Forest, is located at the foot of Mount Fuji. This forest has a sordid past because so many suicides have taken place inside its boundaries. The thick layer of volcanic rock, which absorbs sound and creates an unnatural silence, makes the dense woodland strangely quiet. Both locals and visitors describe experiencing a heavy sense of impending doom and seeing restless ghosts known as yurei—the spirits of people who committed suicide—wandering among the woods. This forest's eerie reputation serves as a gloomy reminder of the difficulties encountered by many who venture into its depths.

Known as the "Bermuda Triangle of Transylvania," the Hoia-Baciu Forest in Romania is notorious for paranormal activity. In the 1960s, the woodland became well-known after a scientist took a picture of what appeared to be an unidentified flying object above it. Visitors have since claimed to have seen ghostly apparitions, odd lights, and mysterious disappearances. Hoia-Baciu's trees grow in strange, twisted shapes that add to the eerie aura of the woodland. Others believe that the forest is a doorway to another realm where the boundaries of reality are slender and the paranormal is readily apparent. There are many myths and legends surrounding Germany's Black Forest. This deep, dark forest has influenced numerous fairy tales, particularly those authored by the Brothers Grimm. There are many ghost stories, werewolf stories, and witches in this area. One of the most famous tales is the headless horseman who rides through the forest at night to find his head. The dense canopy and old trees of the Black Forest foster ghost stories and otherworldly experiences, blurring the boundaries between myth and reality. Wychwood Forest in Oxfordshire, England is another forest with a reputation for hauntings. The most well-known ghost rumored to haunt Wychwood is that of Amy Robsart, Queen Elizabeth I's favorite and Robert Dudley's wife. People who stroll the forest paths claim to occasionally see Amy's spirit, who passed away inexplicably. According to legend, coming across Amy's ghost portends your death within a year. Because of its history and spooky aura, the woodland is a popular spot for paranormal encounters and ghost sightings. The famed Bridgewater Triangle, an area noted for paranormal activity, includes the Massachusetts state forest of Freetown-Fall River. There is a history of unusual happenings in this woodland, including reports of Bigfoot, ghosts, and UFOs. Occult practices and dark rituals further cement the forest's reputation as a haunted place. People who visit the woodland report feeling uneasy, seeing shadowy figures among the trees, and hearing sounds that don't belong to them.

England's Epping Forest, which is outside of London, has a long history of hauntings. The forest used to be a well-known haven for highwaymen, including Dick Turpin. Many people think that these criminals' ghosts still prowl the forest, waiting to trap gullible tourists. Epping Forest is home to several old burial mounds, heightening the feeling of lingering ghosts and restless souls. The woodland is a well-liked but unsettling place for people looking for an encounter with the paranormal because of its closeness to London and its dense, expansive character. These eerie forests are located all over the world and have a lot in common, including lots of ghost stories, historical significance, and dense greenery. They serve as a poignant reminder of the hidden mysteries within the natural world, and the enduring impact of mythology and the paranormal on human society. Regardless of their belief in ghosts, the legends surrounding these woodlands arouse curiosity and fear in individuals, luring them into their enigmatic and sinister depths.

[lauralapantherenoire]

[daedalus4ariadne]

Lured into its vastness. Grasped from existence by its tendrils of death. A deeper calling to the lone and weary .

A force so compelling its victims are left with no option. Succumbing only to its chants and cries.

Choosing to embrace death in it’s thickets.. lucidly and without fear, for the Aokigahara is there

[raygirlramblings]

This whole using phrases like ‘un-alive’ or ‘self terminate’ to avoid getting demonetised on YouTube continues to be ridiculous. This morning I heard someone (in a video discussing Logan Paul’s latest crypto drama) say ‘the unalive forest where someone unalived themselves.’

Ok I get not wanting to say ‘suicide’ in relation to a person but THE FOREST HAS A REAL NAME YOU HALF WIT.

AOKIGAHARA

It’s called AOKIGAHARA. The ‘suicide forest’ is an unfortunate nickname. Aokigahara translates to ‘Sea of Trees’ so even the translation is YouTube safe.

It’s like saying ‘the park with big water spouts’ instead of calling it Yellowstone. It’s so damn childish.

And don’t even try me with the ‘oh maybe he didn’t want to say it because he’s not Japanese and he might pronounce it wrong’ because that’s just laziness when there are loads of resources online to find out how to say it correctly.

I swear some people just wilfully encourage others to stay stupid.

[ink-asunder]

Honestly, that American B film horror about the suicide forest in Japan really reeks of the same brainrot people had when the caretaker's dementia album came out and people were honest to god like "I know engaging with a project about dementia is so scary and can be hard to deal with. So write fanfic where your characters experience dementia as an outlet to help you process it!"

Like jesus, learn when something is NOT your tragedy to process. If my family members processed their own grief about my chronic illness and disability by making a movie framing it as some grotesque scary monster, I would fucking kill people about it