Japan Prays for Disaster Closure

Priests march solemnly into a Buddhist temple in Tokyo.

They are offering prayers for the 23,000 people who died in the earthquake and tsunami that rocked Japan in March.

The ceremony comes on the 100-day anniversary of the catastrophe.

Priests here are hoping the prayers, which mark the end of the traditional Buddhist funerary period, will help the country heal.

[Kyojun Motal, Deputy Head, Western Tokyo Order of Buddhist Nichiren Sect]:

„It is very difficult to expect those who lost someone in an earthquake or tsunami to ever find closure but I believe it is important that we continue to try to help deal with the grief.“

But some, including those who volunteered in the wake of the disaster, were critical of the ceremony.

[Noriko Sugal, Welfare Worker]:

„I don’t think closure is possible in 100 days. I, myself, still find it hard to mourn properly or even comprehend the loss of life, so I just can’t imagine how those who have yet to even find the bodies of their loved one, how they can even find closure with these mass memorials. I believe that they are just putting a number to it, trying to force closure within 100 days. I find it hard to accept.“

Prayers were offered across Japan on Saturday.

Those included a ceremony near the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, which was crippled by the double calamity.

Foto: NTD