[Closed] Aokigahara - Japan. The 'suicide' forest

We have our very own version of that:

[url= http://www.atlasobscura.com/places/overtoun-bridge ]Overtoun Bridge[/url]

That is remarkable, thanks for sharing.

Some interesting remarks in the article about the cultural acceptance of suicide as well.

I kinda didn't know why/how to share but looking through a few sites on google around the forest it just made me feel very weary.

I've never been suicidal, but the idea seems to sit fairly easily with me. The idea that in some sense they have a correct place for suicide, even if there will never really be a right time, is oddly appealing.

We're reacting differently to it, I guess. 😐

I've seen a film about that forest. Can't remember its name though. Was OK.

Fascinating, thanks for sharing.

Documentary...

Interesting points about the cultural acceptability of suicide in japan compared to other countries.

I've been quite a long way down that road myself in the past, and for various reasons u-turned and came back, but I'm always concerned that I'm never that far away from going there again. And one of the 'odd' reasons is that stigma that would surround the act, and the 'selfishness' of the people that are driven to it.

Seems like the Japanese see the opposite. If someone gets to that point where they really see no point in going on with life, and yet do purely because of the impact on others - surely that's about as selfless as it gets?

As per previous posts, would rather that (even if misguided motives) than throwing themselves off a bridge, under a train or using an aircraft..

The problem with suicides, assisted dying and so on is where folk feel obligated to take that route out to avoid being a burden (or indeed are actively coerced into doing so). But I suspect that's less of a problem in Japan than here, generally.

The whole selfish/selfless thing. I suspect most people in that position consider it a selfless act, burden on family/friends etc., and often one of the prime motivations for the act. Most of the time they see no other options. Those friends and family may of course see it differently.

As per previous posts, would rather that (even if misguided motives) than throwing themselves off a bridge, under a train or using an aircraft..

I do wonder how people arrive at their chosen method. It's probably a combination of personality, circumstances, which rabbit hole you've fallen down, maybe they just saw some news report when they were a kid and it just planted a seed, who knows.

Personally, I quite like the forest idea.

Personally, I quite like the forest idea.

Interms of ways out/way to go- its returning back to nature I guess. your passing isn't witnessed by other people. Just by the forest itself.

Its never occurred to me to think of suicide as an act of selfishness.

Perhaps the people who remain living are selfish on some level, that they think others should live in misery in order for they themselves not to have to cope with grief or inconvenience. People who select dying as a choice must have to be utterly utterly unhappy and miserable to even consider suicide, its not like its the 'fun' option for themselves is it.

Its seems to me such a frightening act to attempt and profound event that only the truly unhappy or desperate would try for it. I think you have to be very brave or desperate to kill yourself as it cant be pleasant and is so against the normal self survival instinct. I feel only sadness and sympathy for people whose lives have been so bad that dying is for them, in their own belief, the best option they have.

I have a lot of sympathy for those surviving them as well as it must be sad and terrible and full of 'what ifs..' but I still think its wrong to think of suicides as selfish people.

The world is so harsh sometimes.

I can relate, when I plan my own death it happens quietly, gently and in peace in a beatiful location in Snowdonia. Back to nature. Dust to dust.

That is a beautifully considered post from Midnighthour.

I suppose the only way that suicide isn't frightening is if death isn't frightening. If you really can conceive of it as being just the same as not having been born, then I suppose maybe it really is not something to worry about.

Thanks hora, really interesting article.

Cultural aspects aside, an increasingly fractured society with little stability and increased sense of hopelessness is I think, something we can all relate to.

Edit: midnighthour your post says it better than mine. Good words indeed.

I wonder if people from the Forestry Commission read about Aokigahara. That might explain why they're razing forests to the ground, along with the intrinsic singletrack trails, all over the UK right now.