Rest

The only certainty in life, death, makes no exceptions. Also in Japan people die. Next to our appartment (the brown block, fifth floor) is a grave yard. Though, grave yard is probably not the appropriate word. The deceased are cremated and the urn with their bones and ashes is put in a columbarium.




Each family has a columbarium. Sometimes a share of the ashes are put in the columbarium of the deceased's company's columbarium. A columbarium of Japanese natural stone is often weathered beautifully (see on the left in the picture). Local natural stone is quite soft and porous by its volcanic origin. More and more families buy a columbarium of (imported) Chinese granite nowadays (shown on the right).


Columbaria are taken care of by the family and are cleaned with water. Fresh flowers and drinks are offered (can from a coffee vending machine). Incense is burnt. Smoke has cleansing and perserving qualities.


Columbaria are managed by temples. Older religions like Shinto had no death cult, which was a bit awkward. Buddhism brought relief. Buddhism considers life on earth as a part of a longer chain and has mourning rituals.


The maintenance of a columbarium is a beautiful way of dealing with death. The weatherd colubarium reminds us of our own temporaryness. The striving to the perfect can be seen as a fear of death. Japan traditionally admires the fragile and appreciates sign of aging and decay. In that respect the shiny inert granite is a bit of a pity.




After you die the priest will give you a sacred name. That name is written on a wooden stick. The sticks in the columbarium indicate who rest there. Worn sticks are replaced with new ones by the familiy and the priest. Strong family ties are shown by a well maintained place.