The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1904-06-22
JAPAN'S HOHORS
TO DEAD HERO
Continued from page u


were the svmpathfes Of Hirose. It was
owing to his determined attempt TO
recover the body of Sugino that the
commander lost his life. Following the
guard Of honor came two Shinto priests
-'kannushi," dressed in white, and
riding in carriage of American
make; then the ''sakah,' or Cleyera
Japonica the sacred tree of the Shinto
religion, borne by bluejackets. with a
flag bearing the name and rank of the
deceased
The coffin lay on a gun-carriage,
drawn by thirty Dluejackets, and on
either side walked three officers, class
mates of the commander at the Naval
College. Miss Kaoru Hirose, the little
niece of the deceased, was chief mourn
er, dressed all in white, the mourning
color of the Japanese.
OLD AND NEW.
The route lay through some of the
most picturesque parts of the capital, !
which in turn offered strong con-
trasts Here on the one hand might /
be seen some of the few remaining !
"nagaya"-the severely simple white /
pIastered two-storied barracks which in /
feudal days surrounded and protected !
the "Yashikf' of the daimyo, and /
served to accommodate the two
sworded retainers, ever spelling for !
fight; on the other, numerous modern
dwellings in foreign style. tenanted by I
both japanese and foreigners, might be
accepted as a concrete indication of
the reality of the nations compromise
with the spirit of ancient conservatism
Much of the way was along avenues
OBJ he flowers of |
which covered the path with a light
pink carpet. There was little ritual at
the shrine. Common wood benches
served to seat the principal mourners,
and the altar was severely simple. A
white banner bearing the name and
rank of the deceased in Chinese
surmounted the coffin, and
two of the "sakiIi'' were erected at the ,
side OF the altar.
The rites, known as the "shokonsaf," !
were opened by the chief priest, a ven-
cradle old man. Lights and offerings, s
salt, water, rice, sake, cakes, n
fish, fruit, dried sea-weed and vege- L
tables. were brought in one by one and
placed on a shelf in front of the coffin.
The chief priest read a funeral adj
1ress, a chronological recital of the II
career of the deceased, in that strange, d
sing-song affected by the L
Japanese on these occasions, and then I
,ame Lieutenant Matsumura. This Of I
icer was wounded during the first at Il
ack on Port Arthur-Hirose persisted t
n the secondhand was only recently e
discharged from Sasebo Naval Hos ;
1ita1 He read a message from Adj g
niral Togo, warmly eulogizing the f
of the deceased. Several ora e
ions followed, and during the intervals l
he priestly orchestra ELECTED ear 4
piercing strains from the ''shono-fue."
The British Minister, Sir Claude Mac
Ionald, and General Sir Ian Hamilton, |
he latter in uniform, took part in the =
CEREMONY and nearly every other for '
igner present showed himself eager to +
ollow their example.
A JAPANESE GRAVE. Z
The grave had been dug at the sum- Il
nit of a hilIock, in sight of the spaci- h
us Aoyama barracks, and in the hol- 6
ow below the firing party of blue s
ackets was stationed. Three volleys il
we're fired, the band striking up a few f
'ars of an inspiriting march after C
ach, the mourners threw earth into |;
he open grave, and the public cere- Il
nony came to a close. a
A square post was erected over the 4
rave, bearing on the front the name C
nd age of the dead, and on the sides n
he date of death. the place of birth, b
nd other particulars. Shinto graves u
re fenced in with a paling of bamboo, il
nd at the gate is placed a small n
torii." Plants of the ''sakakf' are O
laced at either side of the gateway, n
nd cherry tree is planted in a CORE b
ponding position on the inside t
After the lapse of a hundred days a
he wood post is changed for stone t
illar, and on every anniversary of the i.
cath of Shinto believer a festival is C
ED in honor of the dead, visit being d
aid to the grave. Every year during L
he third month, q day is chosen on S
which a ceremony is performed in p
onol of the ancestors of the family, G
nd prayers are offered up for the t
amily's prosperity. "
In the old days. when the head OF a
amily died, his wife and most faith b
III retainers would commit suicide to V
company him to the land of shades. t
low, however, figures of clay are sub u