In a bamboo forest behind their home, the ancestors of this Japanese family long ago discovered the stone grave markers of hundreds of soldiers who died in a battle over 2000 years ago. The family has tended the graves for generations by climbing into the forest to place offerings and to pray for the dead. However, when the husband and wife who remained in the house became too old to continue their treks into the hills, they then requested help to have the stone markers relocated and buried in the garden behind their home. The buried stones now give the garden a lumpy appearance not unlike the profile of the surrounding hills. One stone was left unburied and was placed before the mound to receive offerings and prayers. The old man died several years ago and the old woman today lives alone, caring for her garden and providing offerings to the hundreds of warriors who’s stone monuments are buried between her back door and her vegetable patch.The old woman is seen at one point in the video seated on the ground beside a pile of terracotta pots. I was hesitant to film her more closely as I understood that she is very shy. I am not necessarily superstitious, however I found it rather interesting that the huge bronze bell of a nearby Buddhist temple can be heard in the video being struck just as I was doing my close-up of the grave marker.
The house where this old woman lives is in very good condition, though it will likely remain empty after she passes, as few young Japanese wish to live outside the big cities and the population of Japan is currently in decline. I was very moved by this experience and I will do what I can to preserve the memory of these soldiers in the future after the woman is gone and her house becomes vacant and her garden (and its special contents) overgrown and at last forgotten.
