Photo/Illutration A suicide prevention surveillance drone flies overhead during a test flight in Fuji-Kawaguchiko, Yamanashi Prefecture, on Sept. 18. (Takuya Ikeda)

FUJI-KAWAGUCHIKO, Yamanashi Prefecture—To combat the persistent threat of suicides in Aokigahara forest, officials here are now relying on drones in addition to routine sweeps on foot. 

Straddling the municipalities of Fuji-Kawaguchiko and Narusawa, Aokigahara is a sprawling old-growth forest covering approximately 3,000 hectares at the base of Mount Fuji.

While the area is a popular hiking destination for its diverse ecosystem and unique landscapes, "suicide forest" is its long-held moniker. The isolated location and secluded environment hold an unfortunate appeal to some considering the tragic act.

Local authorities regularly patrol the dense forest, but some individuals attempt to enter the area at night. To enhance nighttime surveillance, officials are collaborating with the drone service provider Jdrone to assist with search and rescue efforts for individuals in distress.

Protocol involves two drones taking turns to patrol the area at an altitude of up to 140 meters, using thermal imaging cameras to detect human heat signatures.

Once a person is detected, a third drone quickly responds and either an employee or recorded message via speaker will urge the individual to seek help and return to the trail.

Jdrone employees monitor the situation and, if necessary, dispatch ground patrol officers to provide assistance.

Drone surveillance began this month and is scheduled to continue until March. An analysis of the initiative's effectiveness will then determine whether it will continue beyond April.

Prefectural officials said they plan to explore various ways to operate the drones effectively, such as flying above the forest or navigating through the trees.

The use of drones to prevent suicides is not a new concept. Since 2017, similar efforts have been under way at Tojinbo, a tourist spot in Sakai, Fukui Prefecture, known for its steep cliffs.

NOT ALL LOCAL CASES

More than 30 percent of the 215 suicides reported in the prefecture last year were believed to have been committed by individuals from outside the area, according to prefectural officials. 

When calculating the prefecture's suicide rate based on the residence of the deceased, Yamanashi ranks seventh highest in Japan at 19.2 per 100,000 people.

However, this bumps up to 26.8 when considering where the suicides occurred, placing the prefecture in the nation's top spot for two consecutive years.

Prefectural officials have not disclosed the specific number of suicides to occur in Aokigahara forest, but they do believe a significant number of cases in the forest involve those traveling from other parts of the country; the forest's draw is thought to contribute to the high suicide rate.

Last year, Yamanashi prefectural police rescued 235 individuals attempting to end their lives. Over half—131—were rescued by staff of the Fujiyoshida Police Station that patrols the Aokigahara forest area.

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