Aokigahara (Japan’s Suicide Forest)

As you’ve noticed we had another guest writer recently about Perverted Dragon Ball (23 June 2014), ARRIA CROSS, from FUJINSEI:

http://fujinsei.wordpress.com/

She did an excellent piece on Discover Aokigahara (Japan’s Suicide Forest), which if you’re a fan of Kurosagi Corpse Delivery Service 黑鹭尸体宅配便 (Kurosagi Shitai Takuhaibin) or Samurai Deeper Kyo サムライディーパーキョウ (at least the anime – I’ve not read the manga), you know that this is an important part of these stories and an important part of Japanese culture and mythology.  

Within her article there is a documentary video taken in the Aokigahara forest about Asuza Hayano, who is working hard to prevent suicides.  The video is already subtitled in English.

http://fujinsei.wordpress.com/2014/06/23/discover-aokigahara-japans-suicide-forest/

Please check out her blog, her article on Aokigahara, and this important video, also you’ll notice how beautiful the sea of trees in Aokigahara are.

Nijigahara Holograph 虹ケ原ホログラフ

Nijigahara Holograph 虹ケ原ホログラフ by ASANO Inio 浅野いにお published by Quick Japan (Ohta Shuppan) & Fantagraphics – definitely worth a read – if you don’t mind the unusual (at least for manga published in English in the US) and not a happy ending.  It’s more philosophy and impressions creating an interesting story.

Butterflies                 symbology                  murder                                          incest            cycle of violence               abusive families                Zhuangzi  莊子                 butterflies                  Mental Illness           coma              circling                                      spiraling            rape                                                seinen               bullying             Plato            monster               tunnel                   urban legend     thrown down a well                                           painting               dreams                 butterflies                  more butterflies                          school                          real meaning of Nijigahara confused and revealed                                  hospital       stars                    blood                                                                 non-linear                        darkness           violence                                  magic box                                                         end of world                                                                                                    glowing butterflies                    moonlight                               rain                   Hana Ichi Monme 花一匁                                                                                                                                            We’re so happy we won, hana ichi monme
We’re so upset we lost, hana ichi monme                                                         suicide                     butterflies                 sunset                 cyclical    kudan (cow with human face)