Takahashi family cemetery

On August 5 Yoshiko and I attended a ceremony at her family's cemetery, located in the rural area near Bando in Ibaraki. The ceremony was to bless a new structure in the cemetery grounds, in Japanese known as a "o-dou". Its function is difficult to explain but it serves as a spiritual center for the cemetery and usually houses some important historical and religious items.

The ceremony was handled by the local Buddhist priest (quite a character when not on official duties) and attended by many relatives and the crew that did the construction. Being early August, the temperature was very hot under clear skies and stifling humidity. After the ceremony ended we were hosted to a very large and elaborate lunch.

This structure replaces an earlier one that was in poor condition. The relatives in the area are farmers and very warm and genuine people in every way. But, like farmers in many countries, lead very basic lives. Yoshiko and I agreed to donate the money necessary to construct this new building.