Cemetery in Koya-San

Angelika Every believer of the Buddhist "Shingon" sect (and also Japanese Buddhists of other sects) wishes to be buried at the cemetery at Koya-san, the headquarters of the Shingon sect. Even if it is just a lock of hair, fingernails, or parts of the deceased's ashes that find their final resting place in this cemetery.

They believe that this will put them in the front row when "Kobo Daishi," their revered and deceased priest as well as the founder of the Shingon sect, who according to their belief is merely in deep meditation, meets the future Buddha and both return to the world. The cemetery is vast. There are gravestones as far as the eye can see. Large Japanese companies like Sharp, Nissan, and the coffee company UCC have secured corporate grave plots for their employees.

We came across a large coffee cup at the grave site of the coffee company, for example, and a rocket representing another company: employee benefits in Japanese.

That was our trip to Japan! We are already back in San Francisco and working like maniacs again. See you soon! Your adventurers:

Michael and Angelika