There is a fair bit about today that has been a year (and a bit) in the making. Death and funeral rituals vary across countries and cultures. My friend Jinko, I've known for over thirty years, died last year in March. Cancer. Yes, bloody cancer. The funeral happened shortly thereafter and her remains have been kept in the house (where I am now living) ever since. It is not uncommon. For the last year or so, Yosh, her husband, has been meticulously planning this day, today, when we come together to commemorate the interring of her remains into the family crypt, in her hometown in Nagano Prefecture.
I had to do the official photographic duties of which there are approximately 300. I won't show them all here...suffice to say that since Jinko herself was an amazingly inquisitive snapper herself, I'm sure she would have taken many more. it was in her spirit I was given permission by family and friends to take as many pics as needed.
It was a different photographic experience for me, being rather reserved about these sorts of things (and concerned about the shutter clicking at more solemn moments).
It was a Shinto service and in one of the different sorts of cultural twists typical in this little town apparently, we were each asked to take turns in place a little of her remains into their final resting spot. Yes. Really.
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| Tulips in season |
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| Ceremony begins with a bow |
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| The offerings |
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| The family and friends |
After the service...and another enormous meal, we walked our way back to the station via the Hokusai (woodblock print) Museum...and lots of flowers.
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| The cherry blossoms |
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| Soba noodles |
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| Outside the Hokusai Museum (no photos allowed inside) |
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| An outstanding specimen |
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| A walk in a park |
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| A flower which takes its name from the blessing wand used in shinto rituals (see above) |
A blue sky day with cherry blossoms in perfect full bloom...it is just how Jinko would have ordered it.
[Camera : Canon EOS60D, 28-80mm, 18-55mm, 10.00am-3.58pm, 9 April 2016]
