Aokigahara forest is known as the most haunted place in Japan. This could be something to do with people going there to end their lives. Wataru Tsurumui described Aokigahara as ‘the perfect place to die’ in his bestselling book The Complete Manual of Suicide. In 1998, 73 bodies were found in the forest. In 2002, 78 bodies were found in the forest. By May of 2006, at least 16 new suicides had already been found. More than a few of them were even carrying copies of Tsurumui’s book. In 2003 the rate climbed to 100, and in recent years the local government has stopped publicizing the numbers in an attempt to downplay Aokigahara’s association with suicide. They think about 50 – 100 people go there each year to die.