FUNERAL CEREMONIES IN ADVANCE.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1754, 20 May 1913, Page 3

FUNERAL CEREMONIES IN ADVANCE.

$ STRANGE CEREMONY AT A JAPANESE SHRINE. Old Japan is not dead yet. The following advertisement appeared recently in .several of the Tokio papers:— "The undersigned, in view of tho political situation, have now decided to start on a very important mission at tho risk of their lives. - "They desire, therefore, to hold a farewell meeting with their acquaintances before the graves of the 47 ronin and drink water together, and at the same time to held their funeral services while they are still alive. "They request all those who would join tho function to come to the Senka-kuji Temple, Takanawa, Sliiba, at 10 a.m. on February 15. "Tho exact dato of their death is not yet certain, but the priests will read Scriptures before their coffins as in a funeral service. Upon their death, n« further ceremonies will be held, nor any wreaths accepted. (Signed) "ICanjiro Tsuda, "Gitaro Goto, "Mohei Miyaji." ' This strango announcement no small curiosity—not to say sensation—in tl:« Japanese metropolis, for the signatures were recognised to be those of three notorious soshi (desperadoes), and, as over.vone knew, the political situation remained in a very unsettled slate. Moreover, the place selected for the pre-mor-tein ceremonies was significant. It was ,there that the samurai retainers of a sixteenth century Daimyo, after avenging on the person of a rival chief the dealh of their lord, committed liarakiri and were buried amid every mark of popular approval. An enormous crowd .therefore repaired on the advertised date to the historic shrine, where the programme as set forth in the announcement—including the funeral rites—was tarried out to the letter.

All Tokio has been since wondering what desperate deed, bearing on (he political crisis, is in contemplation, and when it is to be consummated. The first of the three soshi, it may be remarked, 'boars tho same name as the demented policeman who attempted to assassinate the present Tsar of Russia when visiting Japan in ISill.