Becoming One with Nature in the “Sea of Trees:” An Autoethnographic Exploration of Existentialism in Japan’s “Suicide” Forest
Faculty Advisor Name
Lindsey Harvell-Bowman
Department
School of Communication Studies
Description
Aokigahara-jukai, commonly referred to as the “sea of trees” or “suicide forest” is a dense forest located on the edge of Mount Fuji in Fujikawaguchiko, Japan. Spanning nearly 30 square kilometers, the hardened lava from Mount Fuji’s eruption in 864 became the grounds from which the forest grew and ultimately, the place from which an unsavory, dark reputation was conceived (“Aokigahara Forest,” n.d.). The rich history of Aokigahara Forest dates back to Japanese folklore legends alleging that the forest is the place where ghosts, yūrei, of those who have completed the act of suicide wander in limbo; however, in the past several decades, Aokigahara Forest has become sought out by those who experience mental health issues and suicidal ideation as a place to take their own lives (“Aokigahara Forest,” n.d.; Rich, January 5, 2018). According to Rob Gilhooly (2011, June 26) of The Japan Times, police records reported that 247 people attempted suicide in Aokigahara Forest in 2010; 54 of these people died. Officials no longer publicize deaths in the forest for fear that drawing attention to Aokigahara will entice individuals who experience severe depression, hopelessness, loneliness, and suicidal ideation to consider becoming a part of the suicide forest phenomenon; however, the media hascontinued to perpetuate myths about the forest through erroneous portrayals (Keefe, 2017, February 23).
This interdisciplinary project explores the cultural perceptions of suicidality and the role that these perceptions play on meaning of life in Japanese culture through an exploratory, autoethnographic analysis of Aokigahara Forest. In June 2024, I traveled to Fujikawaguchiko, Japan to conduct an autoethnographic analysis of my experiences walking through Aokigahara Forest using shinrin-yoku (forest bathing) and mindful walking (Jung, 2014) as supplemental research methodologies to make empirical observations and take notes on my journey walking through the forest as an embodied sensory experience. Drawing upon the research and ideas of cultural anthropologist and existential philosopher Ernest Becker, this study sheds light on the existential significance Aokigahara Forest has on life, culture, and society in Japan. This research provides future implications for studying the cultural perceptions of suicidality across different cultural landscapes as a way to bring meaning and authenticity to life, create an outlet for people to engage in meaningful conversations about mental health, and reduce the stigma that is associated with seeking help for mental health issues and suicidal ideation, thus building the foundation for future research investigating the cultural implications of suicidality through an existential lens.
References
Aokigahara Forest. (n.d.). Japan National Tourism Organization. https://www.japan.travel/en/spot/1335/
Gilhooly, R. (2011, June 26). Inside Aokigahara, Japan’s ‘suicide forest.’ The Japan Times. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2011/06/26/general/inside-japans-suicide-forest/#.WkuBJ1WnGUk
Jung, Y. (2014). Mindful walking: The serendipitous journey of community-based ethnography. Qualitative Inquiry, 20(5), 612-627. https://doi.org/10.1177/1077800413505543
Keefe, A. (2017, February 23). An ethereal forest where Japanese commit suicide. National Geographic. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/photography/article/aokigahara-jukai-suicide-forest?loggedin=true&rnd=1743479601660
Rich, M. (2018, January 5). Long before video, Japanese fought suicide in the ‘sea of trees.’ The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/05/world/asia/suicide-forest-japan-logan-paul.html
Becoming One with Nature in the “Sea of Trees:” An Autoethnographic Exploration of Existentialism in Japan’s “Suicide” Forest
Aokigahara-jukai, commonly referred to as the “sea of trees” or “suicide forest” is a dense forest located on the edge of Mount Fuji in Fujikawaguchiko, Japan. Spanning nearly 30 square kilometers, the hardened lava from Mount Fuji’s eruption in 864 became the grounds from which the forest grew and ultimately, the place from which an unsavory, dark reputation was conceived (“Aokigahara Forest,” n.d.). The rich history of Aokigahara Forest dates back to Japanese folklore legends alleging that the forest is the place where ghosts, yūrei, of those who have completed the act of suicide wander in limbo; however, in the past several decades, Aokigahara Forest has become sought out by those who experience mental health issues and suicidal ideation as a place to take their own lives (“Aokigahara Forest,” n.d.; Rich, January 5, 2018). According to Rob Gilhooly (2011, June 26) of The Japan Times, police records reported that 247 people attempted suicide in Aokigahara Forest in 2010; 54 of these people died. Officials no longer publicize deaths in the forest for fear that drawing attention to Aokigahara will entice individuals who experience severe depression, hopelessness, loneliness, and suicidal ideation to consider becoming a part of the suicide forest phenomenon; however, the media hascontinued to perpetuate myths about the forest through erroneous portrayals (Keefe, 2017, February 23).
This interdisciplinary project explores the cultural perceptions of suicidality and the role that these perceptions play on meaning of life in Japanese culture through an exploratory, autoethnographic analysis of Aokigahara Forest. In June 2024, I traveled to Fujikawaguchiko, Japan to conduct an autoethnographic analysis of my experiences walking through Aokigahara Forest using shinrin-yoku (forest bathing) and mindful walking (Jung, 2014) as supplemental research methodologies to make empirical observations and take notes on my journey walking through the forest as an embodied sensory experience. Drawing upon the research and ideas of cultural anthropologist and existential philosopher Ernest Becker, this study sheds light on the existential significance Aokigahara Forest has on life, culture, and society in Japan. This research provides future implications for studying the cultural perceptions of suicidality across different cultural landscapes as a way to bring meaning and authenticity to life, create an outlet for people to engage in meaningful conversations about mental health, and reduce the stigma that is associated with seeking help for mental health issues and suicidal ideation, thus building the foundation for future research investigating the cultural implications of suicidality through an existential lens.
References
Aokigahara Forest. (n.d.). Japan National Tourism Organization. https://www.japan.travel/en/spot/1335/
Gilhooly, R. (2011, June 26). Inside Aokigahara, Japan’s ‘suicide forest.’ The Japan Times. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2011/06/26/general/inside-japans-suicide-forest/#.WkuBJ1WnGUk
Jung, Y. (2014). Mindful walking: The serendipitous journey of community-based ethnography. Qualitative Inquiry, 20(5), 612-627. https://doi.org/10.1177/1077800413505543
Keefe, A. (2017, February 23). An ethereal forest where Japanese commit suicide. National Geographic. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/photography/article/aokigahara-jukai-suicide-forest?loggedin=true&rnd=1743479601660
Rich, M. (2018, January 5). Long before video, Japanese fought suicide in the ‘sea of trees.’ The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/05/world/asia/suicide-forest-japan-logan-paul.html
