Sunday, January 15, 2008Today I drug the boys out and about. Of course, they couldn't wait to go! (yeah, right!)
The final destination I had in mind was the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium. It took us a bit to get on the road and going. We had to stop and exchange American money for Yen and got waylaid at the little clothing store next to the Exchange. Little shop, but lots of cool clothes, hats and belts (for the boys). Then onto Kadena to top off the gas tank and, finally, we were off!
We only made it about 5 minu
tes up the road before I had to pull over. After seeing the hearse parked along the side of 58 I just had to stop and take a picture. The Japanese Hearses are a bit different than their American counter parts...as you can see here. Quite the work of art! Believe it or not, this is not one of the more ornate ones (the picture at the top is the very front of the hearse).Here is some information on funerals in Okinawa that was posted on Okina
wa Hai:We made it another 5 or 10 minutes down the road before I was aga
in compelled to stop. This time the stop was a parking lot alongside a bridge. I have always admired the sign along the side of the bridge (photo on the right with the cherry tree behind it), so what better time to stop and take a look? (especially since i had to stop for a red light- it was meant to be!) The sign on the left was one of two in the parking lot- I have no idea what it says, but thought it was beautiful!
I was pleased to find that there is a wonderful path that runs along the stream. There were some shires on the far side. David walked down a ways with me before going back to the van. Matt decided to stay at the van (fuddy duddy that he is!). While they waited for me to get back, he and David played football. 
Up on the hill side, deep in the trees, was a man-made shelter. It looked to be a cave that someone walled off by weaving palm fronds- it was complete with a door and everything (the black area in the middle is 
where the door was). Looked very cozy! There was a man up there- but I hesitated too long to take a picture so he isn't in it.
Having been to a few Okinawan funerals, there are a few other differences I observed.
Firstly, public signs are put up on the streets to `advertise` that there was a death and give directions to the deceased home for people to come pay their respects.
Posted by: Kate
At the funeral, as with weddings, it is customary to offer money in a special envelope to the deceased persons family (usually 1000yen, in old notes to show you were unprepared for the death, new notes are for weddings). In return you will usually receive a token gift (a towel, candy, cake, rice).
All the mourners wishing to pay their respects will complete a brief ritual at a alter of sorts (at the cremation center) which contains incense, and picture of the deceased. The family is usually seated and you pay your respects to them too. In my experience there isn't a service/reading that people attend like western funerals.
The family of the deceased are obliged to carry out many other rituals when a person in their house dies; some of these are repeated for up to 12 months or more. Furthermore, people in mourning usually refrain from attending joyous events such as weddings and parties for the next 12 months.
These are just things that i`ve observed so I'm sure some are wrong or incorrect, but that's the basic premise.