An Australian has sparked outrage after flipping a coin and deciding to take a beer that had been left on a Japanese grave as an offering to the deceased.
Sydney man Lochie Jones shared a video on Instagram on August 4 during a visit to Aokigahara Forest, also known as the ‘Suicide Forest’, near Mount Fuji.
‘So it looks like there’s a cemetery here with a whole bunch of dead people,’ he said to the camera.
‘Look at this guy. A whole can of Kirin. Should I drink it? What do we reckon?’
While looking for a coin, he mumbled: ‘By the way, suicide in Japan is a serious f***ing issue.’
‘The mental health here has to be some of the worst, and I can absolutely understand why. The Japanese women are absolutely vicious and cold,’ he said.
‘The men still have their honour, but it’s been weaponised against them. They’ve been tricked into not having any feelings, and it results in one of the highest suicide rates in the world.’
Jones proceeded to flip a ‘Harry Potter’ coin which had a dragon on one side and a wizard on the other. He said it landed on the dragon side, which meant ‘drink’.
Sydney YouTuber Lochie Jones (pictured) offended dozens of people after he took a beer from a grave in Aokigahara Forest, also known as the ‘Suicide Forest,’ in Japan
Appearing to raise the beer to the gravestone, he said: ‘Happy blessings and rest in peace.’
‘I won’t leave him empty-handed, I’ve got some f***ing Marlborough.’
Jones appeared to partially crush the can against the headstone before placing down two cigarettes, adding: ‘One for me, one for you.’
Typically, families leave drinks, such as sake, tea, or food – including favourite meals – on graves as offerings to the deceased spirits.
As a result, people erupted on social media, with a Reddit user highlighting that items are believed to reach the deceased in some form and so, by taking them, it is ‘almost like robbing the person who passed’.
‘What you did is not just bad manners, it’s deeply disrespectful to both the culture and the family’s grief,’ they said.
Some social media users called for Jones to be thrown out of Japan.
‘Right now, unauthorised intrusions by foreign tourists are occurring one after another at cemeteries nationwide,’ a user said.
The video of him drinking the beer and crushing the can against the gravestone enraged people on social media, who branded Jones (pictured) a ‘graveyard thief’
‘Even if the gods and Buddhas forgive it, I can’t. This bastard who makes my chest feel sick is still in Japan.’
Another person said: ‘These live streamers need to be punished as harshly as possible.’
‘The guy stole from a grave and showed zero remorse. If Japan doesn’t clamp down on this it will only empower these types of people,’ they said.
A commenter then suggested Jones be ‘immediately deported’ and have his visa permanently revoked.
‘I don’t want my tax money to be spent on his meal and clothing while in jail. I don’t want resources (police, investigation time etc) wasted for him,’ they said.
One person, who said they were an Australian who had lived in Japan for over 20 years, said they were ‘ashamed’ of Jones.
‘My reputation is affected by the poor decisions of tourists who come to Japan and leave their manners at the airport. Do better,’ they said.
‘Remember you are representing your country when you are travelling. It’s not funny or clever to steal from graveyards for likes and clicks. I’m sure your parents didn’t bring you up like this.’
Jones published a video apologising to those who felt he had ‘desecrated’ the dead during his visit to Aokigahara Forest (pictured)
The dark side of Aokigahara Forest has inspired both folklore and popular culture, given its notoriety for the suicides that take place within its bounds.
According to Japanese folklore, yurei, a kind of tormented ghost, haunt the area.
Signs at the entrance to the 30km forest inform people that ‘life is a precious gift’ from their parents.
‘Please don’t suffer alone, and first reach out.’
There were 20,268 suicides in Japan in 2024, according to National Police Agency data analysed by Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.
The Japan Suicide Countermeasures Promotion Center has said suicide is the leading cause of death for men between 10 and 44 years old, and for women between the ages of 15 and 34.
Daily Mail contacted Jones regarding his video. On Tuesday, the self-proclaimed ‘unorthodox’ YouTuber published a two-part ‘apology’ video on his Instagram.
‘Look, if you felt I desecrated your dead, I am sorry,’ he said.
The dark side of Aokigahara Forest has inspired both folklore and popular culture, due to its notoriety for the suicides that occur there
‘It was a mistake. I’m coming clean. I shouldn’t have portrayed that,’ he said.
‘The reality we are walking through is going through a period of mass psychosis, and it took crazy to get noticed.’
During the five-minute video, Jones ranted and veered between ‘issues’, claiming Japan has a ‘large-scale hive mind’ and ‘unhealthy imaginary rules’, including banning people from swimming in lakes.
‘Gambling and smoking is vilified, but your culture and the normalisation of paedophilia is inviting demonic forces into the mainstream,’ he claimed.
In an extended video, seen by news.com.au, Jones then said: ‘If you’re a part of gentrified Japan, like a bunch of these white girls, then what the hell are you doing commenting?’
‘It’s you and your actions and this game that they seem to love playing in Japan that’s doing far more damage than me.’
Lifeline 13 11 14
Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636
