TOMB OF THE UNBORN BABIESWhen I was in Matsue, Japan, my host family, Ichiro and Takiko Yoshino, escorted me toa coastal area and, after a short but wet boat ride, we visited a cave (Kyu-kukedo) that is called
the tomb of the unborn babies. The cave contains hundreds of little statues, toys, and flowers left
by many visitors. There also were hundreds of small piles of stones that are said to be placed atnight by the children for their bereaved parents and siblings. However, I did note that both myhost and I made a small pile ourselves. This naturally-made cave is apparently hundreds of years
old and represents the area where the souls of babies that were dead at birth or shortly after are
believed to congregate. There are some sad economic periods in Japan's history when children(especially females) were not always welcomed and some mothers gave up their babies.
Although you can see the cave site from boat you have to leave your boat at a landing andwalk through a long (about 100 meters) human-made tunnel to reach the cave. Many Japanese,
who have lost children, visit this site each year and say prayers for their loved ones. While there
I lit some sticks of incense and said a prayer for two nieces of mine, Mary Isabel and Laura, whoboth died within their first day of life. The cave, shaped like a mother’s womb, gives comfort tomany Japanese. They feel Jizo Bodhisattva, the protector of children’s souls, will ward off
demons and save the children. Bodhisattva means enlightened, but at a lower state than Buddha.

Lighting incense for souls of unborn babies

The red bib on the stone statue of Jizo at the cave, and also seen on Jizo statues
throughout Japan, intrigued me. My questions about the bib received several different answers
from guides. The most prevalent explanation is that bereaved mothers originally placed a salivastained bib of their child on a Jizo statue in hopes that the child could be found by Jizo. The
tradition continues today with new bibs, which in practically all cases are red. Red is believed tobe the color to ward off evil spirits. Sometimes a hat or other clothes are placed on Jizo statues,
which is hoped to keep the lost child warm.

Entrance of tunnel to cave

Ichiro Yoshino in tunnel to cave

M. Perry in cave tomb of unborn babies

The Jizo statues played a role during the Edo period when Christianity was banned inJapan. A rebellion against a local daimyo occurred in 1637-38 in a southwestern area of Japanon the Shimabara Peninsula. The local daimyo had increased taxes to build a new castle and thepoor peasants, mostly Catholic Christians converted by the Portuguese settlers, revolted. During
the rebellion the rebels chopped the heads off of many statues of Jizo. The Shogunate wasoutraged and sent overwhelming forces to Shimabara to suppress the rebels. The castle therebels were holding was eventually recaptured and the rebel leader and all followers werebeheaded. Christianity went underground when it was banned by the Shogunate for over 200years.
Following the treaty between Japan and the United States in 1854, Commodore Perry wasallowed to bury three of his dead sailors in Japanese soil in Shimoda with a combined Christianand Buddhist ceremony. However, a period of unrest occurred for another 12 years between thesamurai forces and the rebels preferring the return of the Emperor. More Christians were killedduring the unrest and in Yokohama there is a Foreigners Cemetery for the dead Christians.
Fortunately, this period of unrest over religion ended with the return of the Emperor in 1868 andJapan now has a tolerant attitude concerning religious preference that is very admirable.
Each year the Japanese observe a period called Obon. It typically is in August, but in one
area of Japan that I visited in 2013, it was observed in July, due to the busy rice harvest season inAugust. I was asked to participate in the traditional dance of Obon (Bon-odori) that welcomes
the spirits of all the dead ancestors back to earth. After the long somber dance with a chanter
singing, a man beating a gong, and many participants in traditional garments, there is a feast withfamily and friends.

Obon host, Tateshi Nakayama, M. Perry, and Tateshi’s son, Hitoshi.

The Obon period also is a time when Japanese family members visit the graves of theirancestors and pay homage to them. It is a great tradition and I was happy to participate in theObon observance with my Japanese friends on my recent trip. The Japanese appear to have agreat respect for their deceased relatives. Whether it is a baby dying at birth or a senior living afull life, the respect for their dead relatives is a very admirable tradition that other countries andcultures should try to emulate to a greater degree.

Traditional Obon dance with drummer and singer

Red bibs on statues of Jizo

Children attending the Obon festival