Notes
funeral：葬式；
discard：捨てる；
respect：敬意;
spirit：魂

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The following photo shows that in Japan, Buddhist monks are preparing a special funeral service for thousands of old dolls and stuffed animals.

This event takes place every year in Yao, Osaka. Many people bring toys they loved as children but no longer use. Instead of throwing them away, they want to say “thank you” and show respect.

The service started more than 20 years ago when a funeral company received many requests from people who felt sad about discarding their toys. Now, the event has grown very large, with about 50,000 dolls collected in one year.

During the ceremony, the dolls are placed neatly in a hall, and monks chant prayers. This reflects a Japanese belief that objects can have a spirit. The ceremony gives people a peaceful way to say goodbye to their childhood memories.
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Yakumo Koizumi, also known as Lafcadio Hearn, was a writer and teacher who helped people in the West learn about Japan. He was born in Greece in 1850 and later lived in Ireland and the United States. There, he worked as a newspaper writer. In 1890, he came to Japan, and his life changed when he learned about Japanese culture and daily life.

He lived in places such as Matsue, Kumamoto, and Tokyo. He taught English and learned more about Japanese society. Later, he became a Japanese citizen and took the name Koizumi Yakumo. He married a Japanese woman and had children in Japan. Do you know Japanese ghost stories? His famous book Kwaidan introduced these stories to Western readers in a clear and respectful way.

His life in Japan later inspired the NHK TV drama ばけばけ, which helps today’s viewers understand his life between different cultures and his love for Japan.
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　(Image by AI)