Aokigahara is a natural landscape — beautiful, peaceful, ancient. What “darkens” it is not nature itself, but the stories of the people who arrived there with wounded souls. It is essential to understand that when we talk about such phenomena, we are talking about human psychology, not geography. We are talking about people struggling with fear, loneliness, pain and despair. The forest is simply a place. The human being is the one who carries thoughts, emotions and responsibilities.

However, a simple search on YouTube reveals how strongly the forest has become associated with the paranormal. The Greek YouTube channel Gloomy Gentlemen, in a video titled “5 Things You Didn’t Know About Aokigahara Forest,” mentions some information that goes beyond the typical facts. They refer to the writer Seicho Matsumoto and his novel on the protagonist’s decision to end her life in the Aokigahara forest, also known as the “Sea of Trees.” Other details include the possibility that visitors might encounter red ribbons tied to trees — left by people who wanted to avoid getting lost during their visit — as well as personal belongings of many victims, such as glasses, clothes, tents and utensils that remain in various places throughout the forest.

Despite its reputation, Aokigahara remains an area of great natural value that could teach us respect for nature as well as understanding of the human psyche. It is simply the manifestation of something crucial that is happening in Japan, a country that has become known for its lack of recognizing the importance of mental health issues, many of which are connected to the heavy workload people face in their daily lives.

The phenomenon of Karoshi describes severe health deterioration caused by excessive work, which can lead to sudden death. According to an article by HuffPost, Japanese employees spend around 60 hours per week at the office, under constant stress. These factors may not be immediately fatal, but they can lead to habits such as smoking and alcohol consumption, which gradually cause life-threatening illnesses. According to the National Defense Counsel for Victims of Karoshi, Japan loses about 10,000 workers each year due to this phenomenon.

At the same time, Hikikomori is a serious condition of social isolation in which young people completely withdraw from social life, remaining confined at home for more than six months. These individuals often experience intense shame, anxiety and fear of failure. The syndrome is not necessarily a standalone psychiatric disorder but is associated with other mental health issues such as burnout and depression.

Research by mental health specialists shows that in today’s economic environment these phenomena are intensifying, resulting in an increase in the number of victims year after year.

Grade 12 (C2), General Lyceum of Zevgolatio

Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta (aka Lady Gaga) started playing piano at the age of 4. She is known for her extreme outfits and making fashions out of food, like in the case of her famous meat dress at the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards. She is also the founder of the Born This Way Foundation which offers Mental Health Support.

Thanasis Veggos (Greek actor)

When he was young, Thanasis Veggos never dreamt of becoming an actor. He used to work at a factory intending to become an electrician. His acting career began completely by accident when he met film director Nikos Koundouros, while they were both imprisoned for political reasons. This meeting changed his life and turned him into the beloved actor everyone still loves to watch.

Jason Statham (actor)

Jason Statham was a professional diver before he got into acting. The British actor was actually a member of the National Diving Team for about 12 years before becoming a global action star.

Leonardo DiCaprio (actor)

DiCaprio was named after Leonardo da Vinci because his mother felt him kick for the first time when pregnant while looking at a da Vinci painting. Prior to becoming a movie star, he appeared in commercials and educational films as a child actor. Leonardo is an avid collector of rare watches and vintage cars, but he keeps his collection mostly private.

Grade 9, Junior High School of Goura

Denmark

In Denmark people send anonymous short poems or letters called «Gaekkebrev». If the receiver guesses the sender, they receive an Easter egg later that year.

Italy

In some parts of Italy, couples traditionally attach padlocks (aka «love locks») to bridges or railings and throw the key away as a symbol of never dying love.

South Korea

In South Korea, Valentine’s Day is celebrated in the span of three months. On February 14, women gift chocolates to men. On March 14 (called «White Day»), men return the favor by gifting back sweets. On April 14 (known as «Black Day»), single people gather to eat black noodles.

Philippines

Valentine’s Day is the most popular day for weddings in the Philippines. Hundreds of couples gather in public places, such as parks or malls, to get married at the same time in mass ceremonies sponsored by the government.

Finland

Ystävänpäivä, loosely translates to «Friendship Day» is commemorated on February 14. Rather than showy displays of love and affection, Fins offer their loved ones small mementos to let them know how much they’re values.

Czech Republic

Valentine’s Day in Czech Republic has got more popular over the years, but the actual day is celebrated on May 1st instead. It’s become a tradition for couples to visit the statue of poet Karel Hynek Mácha situated near a cherry tree grove. As if this celebration of poetry wasn’t romantic enough, the lovers kiss under the boughs of the cherry trees for good luck.

Grade 9, Senior High School of Goura

Reflecting on the past and the present of book banning, here are some thoughts on the issue:

The Nazi book burning refers to a series of public events that took place in Germany during the summer of 1933, initiated by the Nazi party as a means of enforcing ideological conformity and suppressing dissent. Following their rise to power, the Nazis sought to eliminate works deemed contrary to their beliefs, particularly those authorized by Jews and other marginalized groups. On May 10, 1933 thousands of books (over twenty thousand in total) were gathered and ceremoniously burned in large bonfires across various German cities.

The book burning of 1933 was far more than a simple act of physical destruction. It was a potent symbolic event representing the Nazi regimes attempt to erase ideas, control thought and consolidate power. By publicly burning books written by Jewish, communists, liberalists and other «un-German» authors, the Nazis were not just destroying paper, but attempting to eradicate intellectual opposition and diverse perspectives.

The book burning of 1933 was much more than just burning books. It showed that the government wanted to control people’s thoughts and stop different liberal opinions. By destroying books, they tried to silence certain writers and ideas. It was also a warning to everyone that they had to agree with that regime. This event was an important sign that freedom and democracy were in danger.

The book burning of 1933 was not just about destroying books. It was an attack on freedom of speech and different ideas. By burning  books the government wanted to silence writers and control what people were allowed to think and believe. It was a way to scare people and show that only their opinions were accepted. This event was the beginning of more censorship and unfair treat of many people.

Book bans today are similar to those in Nazi Germany because in born cases people try to control what others can read and think. In 1933, the government led by Hitler burned books that didn’t agree with their ideas. They wanted everyone to follow the same belief. Today, some book are removed from schools because people think they are not suitable. However, there is also a big difference. In 1933, the book burnings were organized by a strict government and people could be punished for reading certain books. Today, in many countries, people can still discuss and disagree about book bans, but there is more freedom to share different opinions.

I believe that banning books is not right. Maybe it can be accepted if  a book encourages violence or something harmful but most of the time, censorship takes away freedom of the speech and stops people from thinking freely. A free society should accept different opinions, even if not everyone agrees with them. When people read different  ideas, they learn to think better and form their own opinion. It is better to talk about books and learn from them than to ban them.

Grade 12, Upper Secondary Classes of Goura