Immersion in water is one of the ways to repose the body of the deceased. Along with burial in the ground, burning and sky burial, this ritual dates back to ancient times. The tradition of water burial was most widespread among peoples who lived near bodies of water or, due to their occupation, often sailed the seas.
In Europe, the custom of lowering a dead body into the abyss of water was characteristic of the Vikings. Glorious men who distinguished themselves in battle were equipped after death in full battle dress. They were placed on a mini-longship or raft and released to the freedom of the waves. Less wealthy people were wrapped in a shroud, taken away from the shore and lowered into the water at depth.
Burial in the waters today
The circumstances under which the body was previously disposed of on the ship will now seem insignificant. If in the past the presence of a dead person on board invariably led to infection of crew members, now freezers are used to preserve bodies. Every modern airliner is equipped with the latter.
Nowadays, drinking water is not so popular and is regulated by regulations of individual countries.
Great Britain – “Mistress of the Seas” - allowed
Residents of Tumanny Albin are officially allowed to choose this method of burial as burial in water. About a hundred Britons use this right every year. To organize sea burials, special places have been designated for them, for example, Whyat Island.
Sea burial imposes a number of conventions on the ceremony. So, holes are drilled in a wooden coffin to quickly fill with water. A concrete channel is tied to the lower part as a sinker. Previously embalmed bodies are not allowed for this type of burial, since the poison in the preservative solution can cause irreparable damage to the ecosystem. In addition, mandatory certificates are required that before death the deceased did not suffer from HIV, hepatitis and a number of other infectious diseases.
The Netherlands - there is a lot of water - you can’t bury it
Although the state itself actually stands “on the water,” this kind of burial is prohibited at the official level. Nevertheless, there are enough people who want to rest in this way. These are mainly people with maritime specialties.
To maintain all the rules of decency, the bodies are sent for burial to the UK, where sea burial is permitted. Moreover, they carry out transportation on a ship with a British flag. After all, the laws of the country must be strictly observed on Dutch vessels.
Germany - economical and romantic
Every year, about 20 thousand Germans choose the waters of the North and Baltic Seas as their final resting place. The mayor of the city of Strand spoke out against the construction of a memorial on the shore, but contributed to the arrangement of a site overlooking the sea for the commemoration.
Hawaii: the expanse of the sea is eager to receive its children
The traditional method of repose in the Hawaiian Islands is burial in water. This custom is closely related to the way of life, crafts and location. These days, unfortunately, fewer and fewer native Haitians want to be buried at the bottom of the sea.
Australia – not allowed, but possible with special permission
In general, burial in deep waters is prohibited by the laws of the country. However, if such a desire is expressed, the relatives of the deceased can obtain the necessary permissions and perform the ceremony.
USA - possible, but away from the coast
Burial in water outside territorial waters is permitted by law. The minimum distance to the coast must be at least 240 km. This restriction is not at all connected with a prejudiced attitude towards the dead, but is inspired by practical considerations. Previously, fishing vessels often captured free-floating bodies of the deceased in their nets. In addition, ocean currents washed half-decomposed remains to the shores, which did not contribute in any way to preserving the ecology of the coast.
Today, those wishing to be buried in the abyss of waters increasingly prefer cremation and further dispersal. Or the urn with ashes is directly lowered to the ocean floor.
Ashes at the base of the reef - a new funeral trend
The demand for “water burial” has led to the search for new solutions for such burials. One of them was the perpetuation of memory at the base of coral islands. On the one hand, the ecosystem of the ocean floor is supported, on the other, the foot of the island is strengthened.
The cremated ashes themselves are placed in the voids of a concrete hemisphere and sealed. The second option is to use ash when mixing the cement mortar from which bricks are made. Data about the deceased is applied to the concrete product itself by imprinting or attaching a sign to a pole. Next, the hardened ashes are placed at the base of the reef. On average, the depth of repose is about 100 meters. The distance from the coast is about 20 km. This means that the relatives of the deceased will always be able to arm themselves with scuba gear and publicly honor the memory of their loved one.
It is noteworthy that after just a few months, coral polyps begin to grow on the artificial base of the reef.
Russia - allowed only to military sailors in emergency circumstances
According to the regulations of the Russian Navy, the burial of sailors who died on a ship should be carried out on land. To do this, the body is placed in a refrigerator and transported to shore. Immersion in water is carried out only in exceptional cases.
When performing a funeral rite, the body is wrapped in canvas, sewn up on all sides, and weights are attached to the legs. At a funeral, the deceased is covered with a Navy flag and a cap is placed on top. If the deceased was an officer, a crossed scabbard and dirk are placed open next to the headdress. If there are medals and orders, they are placed on the order pillow. These attributes are not sent into the abyss of water, but after farewell they are handed over to the family of the deceased. The ceremony itself takes place with proper military honors.
Farewell ceremony for the body on the water according to the Charter of the Russian Navy
The beginning of the event is indicated by the “Big Gathering” signal. As it sounds, the entire crew of the ship is located on the upper deck. A funeral march is performed, and at its end a three-shot salvo of blank cartridges is fired. The ritual is performed on the ship itself or using a boat/dinghy, which takes the body to the depths. To the sounds of the anthem of the Russian Federation, the plane (board) on which the deceased is placed wrapped in a shroud is brought to the side of the vessel (boat/boat). Gradually they begin to tilt it, increasing the angle of inclination. The body slides into the water.
During the ceremony, the flag is lowered to half its height. In this way, in “sea language,” they inform the rest of the cruising ships that a burial ceremony is being performed on board. It’s as if Death itself is hoisting its invisible flag on top.
A note is made in the ship's log about the coordinates of the place where the surrender took place.
February 27, 2019381. Military honors are given at the burial of: those who died in defense of the Fatherland; military personnel (citizens called up for military training) who died during military service (military training) or died during this period as a result of injury (wounds, trauma, concussion), illness; citizens discharged from military service upon reaching the age limit for military service, for health reasons or in connection with organizational and staffing measures, having a total duration of military service of 20 years or more; Heroes of the Soviet Union, Heroes of the Russian Federation or full holders of the Order of Glory; war participants; combat veterans; military veterans; persons who held government positions in the Russian Federation, as well as citizens who had special services to the state.
382. The organization of the funeral of military personnel who died (died) during military service is entrusted to their direct superiors, and the rest of the persons for whose burial an honorary escort is assigned - to the head of the garrison (city or district military commissar).
383. Units appointed to provide military honors during burial constitute an honor escort.
The honorary escort is appointed as follows:
when burying soldiers (sailors), sergeants (foremen) and warrant officers (midshipmen) - a squad, platoon or corresponding unit;
at the burial of officers, as well as military personnel and citizens awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union, Hero of the Russian Federation, awarded the Order of Glory of three degrees, persons holding public positions in the Russian Federation, as well as citizens who had special merits to the state - platoon, company or the corresponding him a unit.
When burying deceased participants in war (combat) in the military ranks of private (sailor), sergeant (sergeant major), warrant officer (midshipman) and junior officers, based on the organizational and staffing capabilities of military units and depending on their distance from the burial site, an honorary escort is assigned to composition of the department.
The honorary escort must be with the State Flag of the Russian Federation with a mourning ribbon, and when appointed from a platoon or more, in addition, with the Battle Banner without a banner cover and with a mourning ribbon.
384. In addition to an honorary escort, the following are appointed to the funeral:
guard of honor to the coffin;
military band;
funeral outfit (8 - 10 people) without weapons under the command of a sergeant (sergeant major).
If it is not possible to use a military band to perform military honors, a signaller-drummer is appointed.
To transport the coffin with the body of the deceased, a car is allocated, and in special cases, by decision of the head of the garrison, a gun carriage is allocated.
To carry orders and medals, one person is appointed to carry each pillow with an order or medals, and when burying officers, officers are appointed for this, and when burying warrant officers (midshipmen), sergeants (foremen) and soldiers (sailors) - warrant officers (midshipmen) , sergeants (foremen) or soldiers (sailors).
Each order is attached to a separate pad. Several medals can be attached to one pad.
The lid of the coffin is covered with the flag of the Russian Federation. A headdress is attached to the lid of the coffin, and when burying officers (midshipmen) of the Navy, in addition, a crossed dagger and scabbard are attached. Before closing the coffin lid, the dagger and scabbard are removed from the coffin lid, the cloth of the State Flag of the Russian Federation is folded and handed over to the relatives of the deceased.
385. An honorary escort and funeral outfit for a serviceman who died in his military unit are appointed by the commander of this unit. The time and place of removal and burial of the body of the deceased is reported to the assistant chief of the garrison for the organization of garrison service (military commandant of the garrison).
In the event of the death of a serviceman outside the place of his permanent service, an honorary escort and funeral outfit are appointed by the head of the garrison at the place of death of the serviceman.
386. If the burial of a deceased serviceman takes place in another locality, the coffin with the body of the deceased is accompanied by an honorary escort to the city limits (station, airfield, port, pier).
To accompany the coffin with the body of the deceased on its way to the funeral site, by order of the commander of the military unit or the head of the garrison (military commissar), two to four military personnel are appointed, who must be instructed and have with them: a notice of death; death certificate and certificate; a letter to the family of the deceased, signed by the commander of the military unit, outlining the circumstances of the death; personal belongings, valuables and awards of the deceased, packed and sealed with an official wax seal.
Upon arrival at the destination, the accompanying persons must hand over the documents and belongings of the deceased to the military commissar according to the act and take personal part in the funeral.
The death notice with a note on the date and place of burial, certified by the official seal of the military commissariat, is handed over to the accompanying persons upon return to the headquarters of their military unit.
The commander of the military unit (assistant to the garrison chief for organizing garrison service, military commandant of the garrison, military commissar), where the serviceman died, no later than 24 hours.
(see text in the previous edition)
To meet and accompany the coffin with the body of the deceased to the burial place, an honorary escort and a funeral outfit are assigned in accordance with this Charter.
387. On the death of a serviceman, the commander of a military unit (assistant to the garrison chief for organizing garrison service, military commandant of the garrison) is obliged on the same day to notify the next of kin of the deceased and the military commissariat of the district (city) at the place of residence of the family or conscription of the deceased.
(see text in the previous edition)
388. The assistant chief of the garrison for the organization of garrison service (military commandant of the garrison) notifies in advance the commander of the military unit from which the honorary escort and funeral outfit are assigned, about the time, place of their arrival and uniform.
Warrant officers (midshipmen), officers at funerals must wear casual clothing and, as directed by the assistant chief of the garrison for the organization of garrison service (military commandant of the garrison), wear a mourning bandage on the left sleeve.
(see text in the previous edition)
389. Farewell to the deceased takes place in a mourning hall or room determined by the head of the garrison (commander of the military unit). The time for setting up an honor guard at the coffin with the body of the deceased is determined by the head of the garrison (commander of the military unit).
The guard places two pairs of sentries from its composition. One pair of sentries stands on both sides of the coffin with the body of the deceased, two steps away from it at the head, the other pair is at the feet. Each pair of sentries faces the other pair, having machine guns in the chest position (carbines in the foot position), and takes a drill stance.
Sentinels must have a mourning band on their left sleeve.
During the procession and when the coffin is lowered into the grave, the guards are not changed.
390. To pay honors to the deceased, honorary guards may be posted from among representatives from the military unit and public organizations. They stand without weapons and headdresses, with mourning bands, next to the guard of honor (at a distance of one or two steps from the outside) and are replaced every three to five minutes.
391. Upon arrival at the place where the coffin is taken out, the honorary escort lines up in a deployed formation facing the exit from where the coffin is to be taken out. The military band lines up three steps to the right of the honorary escort.
The honor escort does not perform the military salute during the funeral.
392. When carrying the coffin out of the building, a military serviceman with a portrait of the deceased walks in front, followed by military personnel with wreaths at a distance of two or three steps, followed at the same distance by military personnel with orders and medals of the deceased in order of seniority of orders, then followed military personnel with a coffin, persons accompanying the deceased, and an honor guard.
At the moment of carrying out the coffin with the body of the deceased, the head of the honorary escort, without leaving his place in the ranks, commands: “ATMILNO” (if the escort is armed with carbines - “ATMILNO, on Kra-UL”) - and puts his hand to the headdress. All military personnel in the ranks turn their heads towards the coffin. A military band (signalist-drummer) performs "Kol Slaven".
When carrying out the coffin, military personnel who are out of formation take a formation stance and put their hand to their headdress.
393. The procession moves in the order specified in Article 392 of this Charter. An honor guard follows those accompanying the deceased, followed by a military band and an honor escort. When following a funeral procession, the coffin lid is on the coffin, and before bidding farewell to the body of the deceased, it is removed.
When the procession moves on foot, a military band (signalist-drummer) plays mourning music (funeral march) at intervals.
Honor guards follow on both sides of the coffin with machine guns in the “chest” position, with carbines in the “shoulder” position; When accompanying the coffin in a car, the guards, in a sitting position, hold carabiners between their knees.
394. In some cases, by special order of the garrison commander, military units (units) can be lined up on foot in a single-rank or double-rank formation at the place where the coffin is taken out and on the approach to the burial place on both sides of the path where the procession is to take place.
A long time ago, the inhabitants of the islands and coasts, due to lack of space on earth, already buried their dead in the sea, setting fire to it. Now, due to the rapid growth and settlement of humanity around the world, ancient customs are gradually being revived. The heads of state understand that the problem cannot be solved alone.
Thus, cremation ovens are often installed on submarines - and in the event of the sudden death of one of the crew members, his body is burned right there. Upon arrival at the port, the relatives are given an urn containing the ashes.
As for ordinary ships, just a few decades earlier, corpses were placed in a bag along with something heavy (most often a stone) and dumped directly into the sea. This was done in order not to slow down the ship, because the voyage was already long. Another reason was the superstitions of sailors, who believed that a dead person on a ship was unlucky, and rotting meat, moreover, for medical reasons, was dangerous to health. Nowadays, large ships, as a rule, have their own morgue: there the body is frozen and awaits delivery to the home port, where it is taken for forensic examination.
However, this applies not only to followers of Christianity. Sharia prohibits Muslims from giving their bodies to the sea - the dead are obliged to reach land under any circumstances. If there is no morgue on the ship, and it is impossible to save or quickly deliver the deceased to the shore using a helicopter, a procedure is performed over the corpse, which consists of washing, wrapping in a shroud, a special prayer, reading talquin, etc.). After this, the deceased is enclosed in boards, tied up and released to the shore - in the hope that even among the infidels there will be at least one humble son of Allah who will bury the dead.
But on the coast, burial at sea is purely voluntary. Thus, in China, with a population of one and a half billion citizens and rapidly rising real estate prices, a typical funeral costs $16,000. For this reason, the authorities are conducting active propaganda, promising to pay the family of the deceased up to $1,300 if people agree to cremate the deceased and scatter his ashes over the sea, which in China is considered shameful and humiliating.
On the contrary, in the USA in recent years it has become fashionable to take the deceased and those who came to say goodbye to him for a ride on a boat or along the river. True, river funerals serve only as part of the ritual, and the body still ends up in the ground or cremation oven. However, innovation is not uncommon in the States: the seabed is also positively viewed as a romantic last refuge (the first such burial can be called).
In the near future, sea and river funerals will no longer be an extraordinary event, say companies providing funeral services. Now the idea that one’s own body or the remains of a loved one will be fed to fish seems monstrous to people. However, bodies in the ground take decades to decompose, and there is no more free space. So very soon, burial at the bottom will be considered as one of the most suitable options for disposing of a body.
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The final resting place worries many during their lifetime. For our resort, and not only, this topic is very relevant. Land is becoming less and less, space in cemeteries is becoming more and more expensive. And the very appearance of many cemeteries causes trembling. Anyone who has been to Sochi cemeteries knows firsthand that they are overcrowded - there are often sub-burials, coffins on coffins, we really don’t have room to expand the graveyards. In addition, there are a lot of abandoned graves, and fences are made as many as finances allow. In some places there is grass as tall as a man and impassable mud. What can I say, you need to see it...
At one time the idea of a crematorium was discussed, but it has not yet passed. Burying on the moon, in space, closer to God, as international millionaires have now come up with, is also unaffordable. Readers came to our editorial office with a proposal - why not organize a marine cemetery? "Narodnaya Gazeta" tried to consider the idea that was proposed by our readers.
Ashes in the sea
The high mortality rate and the ever-decreasing amount of land for burials make us think hard. For the city of Sochi, with its high population concentration and lack of land, this is generally a problem. One way out would be to organize a crematorium; this topic is still being discussed at city planning councils. But here everything, by and large, comes down to the economic issue and the mentality of citizens. Surveys have shown that at the initial stage, the percentage of cremations (still a new, unusual thing) will be a maximum of 15% of the dead, which will include unclaimed, motherless bodies.
Meanwhile, maintaining a crematorium is expensive. Officials also say that a crematorium has already been built in Novorossiysk, with plans to serve the entire Krasnodar region. And with a competent approach, in the event of the dying will and wishes of relatives, a trip there can be organized literally within one day. Therefore, the issue with the crematorium most likely will not be resolved. Nevertheless, the problem with burials needs to be solved as soon as possible; cemeteries in Sochi are overcrowded, and soon there will simply be nowhere to bury.
Our readers see a way out of the situation in organizing a sea cemetery
The vastness of the Black Sea will allow such an idea to be realized; as is known, it is a huge reservoir of hydrogen sulfide. Below a depth of 150 -200 meters, hydrogen sulfide lies in our sea, the so-called “dead zone”, where there are no living beings and all organic matter decomposes. Also due to this factor, the sea ecosystem has the property of self-cleaning. Someone can say why do we need a second river Ganges? But won't the whole idea backfire? Here I would like to clarify that hydrogen sulfide is a gas that completely dissolves everything that gets to the depth of its occurrence. It turns out, no matter how strange it may sound, economical management, and environmental standards would be observed. Yes, and we are all reasonable people, and no one would create sea cemeteries in places where tourists gather and from a moral point of view.
Recently, the governor of the Krasnodar Territory, Veniamin Kondratyev, proposed equipping empty coastal areas from Sochi towards Gelendzhik. Where it is impossible to create a tourist infrastructure, marine cemeteries could be organized in between. And the local population could earn money by providing funeral services.
What about them?
By the way, China has become seriously interested in the topic of burials at sea. In the central city of the Chinese province of Guangdong, a cemetery plot will cost $1,200 per square meter. This is even more expensive than luxury apartments. But in Shanghai, Shaoxing or Wenzhou, the authorities will pay you $320, $800 or $1,290 to scatter the ashes of the dead at sea. Even the cost of the boat ride and the flower petals with which the ashes are mixed are included. According to the tradition of the US Navy, the most distinguished are also buried at sea.
The Navy Charter allows for the burial of both bodies in the coffin and the scattering of ashes. The farewell ceremony is accompanied by a religious ritual (if the person professed one religion or another) and ends with three shots fired by a mourning platoon of seven people. In the UK and Ireland, burial at sea is permitted in certain parts of the North Sea, requiring special permission. In the Hawaiian Islands, such burials have a long tradition among the indigenous population and are still practiced today. It turns out that the topic of sea burials is not new and could become a way out for Sochi from the situation with oversaturation of local cemeteries.
The tradition of burial at sea originated in ancient times and existed among a variety of peoples.
All this had its own background - the belief that the path to the next world leads by water or that the ancestors arrived by sea. The Vikings used to bury a person in a special funeral boat, which was set on fire before sailing. In Rus', where many Varangians lived, the leader’s body was placed on a ship, which was set on fire by the deceased’s closest relative.
Rest in style
Sea funerals are now gaining popularity in the scientific field. Being buried at sea is also becoming very fashionable. In contrast to Charles Darwin's theory about the origin of people from ape-like ancestors, there is another - humanity came out of water. The latter is currently very popular. If a person did not get down from the tree, but came out of the water, it turns out that it would be more harmonious to find his final refuge in it. This idea is supported by many psychologists. A funeral at sea is easier to mentally endure than a funeral in land.
– Lowering the coffin into the ground, slowly throwing the earth - this is very difficult, just like cremation, many are afraid of this. And sea burial has a gentler effect on the psyche,– one of the resort psychologists clarified for the People's Newspaper of Sochi.
Indeed - a fenced water area, a boat, solemn music, a beautiful coffin in the shape of a pearl shell that is lowered into the sea, flower petals floating around - all this may look unusual to us, but beautiful. If we develop this topic further, we can also organize the installation of a floating monument and obtain a special certificate containing certain coordinates of the burial. You can equip a coastal area with memorial tables and gazebos in a suitable way for funerals, where you can indulge in mourning for the departed with a beautiful view of the sea and dolphins swimming nearby...
There is an idea that this would be especially interesting for foreigners (to be buried in the Black Sea, and in the sea in general, for many of them it is status, beautiful and unusual). And this, in addition to solving the problem with cemeteries in general, would also provide additional income for Sochi residents. After all, relatives of the deceased will come to their sea graves, buy something, and settle somewhere. There was a funeral, and then there was a paid boat ride for the funeral and visits - this is a whole industry of unusual funerals.
Underwater rocks
However, with the organization of marine cemeteries, everything is not so simple for us. This business has its pitfalls. Director of the Sochi Municipal Budgetary Institution “Office for the Organization of Funeral Business” Alexander Mamlai, agreeing that there is a rational grain in the idea of sea burials, explained that it would not be easy to implement such a project.
–There is current legislation, but it doesn’t say a word about burials at sea, explained Alexander Mamlai, – so we can discuss a lot, but until this is spelled out at the legislative, federal level, all this is useless.
It turns out that in order to launch a project with marine cemeteries, it is necessary to redraw legislation at the Federation level. Whether parliamentarians will agree to this is a question. Meanwhile, the problem with our Sochi churchyards, where there is no longer room to bury, requires a solution. I would like our government to quickly pay attention to it and find a way out.
No matter how much they say that “a sailor’s grave is the sea,” every sailor dreams of being buried on land, so that his relatives have somewhere to come to remember him. The Japanese were no exception - each naval base had its own cemetery where dead and deceased sailors were buried. However, during World War II, many Japanese sailors went down with their ships, and symbolic graves became the place of their memory.
Special naval cemeteries began to be created at the main Japanese naval bases back in the 19th century. In such places, dead and fallen military sailors were solemnly buried, but they had one difference from classical European-type cemeteries. The fact is that according to Japanese tradition, once a year it is customary to remember the souls of the deceased. This ceremony was officially held in naval cemeteries, but it turned out that it was not very convenient to remember those killed in a naval battle or disaster if the graves were scattered throughout the country, or the sea never gave up the bodies. Then cenotaph memorials began to be installed in cemeteries - symbolic graves without the ashes of the dead. Unlike the classic monuments to lost ships and sailors, which exist both in the West and in Japan, these were precisely symbolic graves, objects of commemoration of the dead.
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Yokosuka: cenotaph of the crew of the battle cruiser Tsukuba, who died in an ammunition explosion on January 14, 1917.
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Yokosuka: individual graves.
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Yokosuka: annual commemoration ceremony.
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After Japan's defeat in World War II, the official naval commemoration ceremony was canceled as "militaristic ritual". However, by that time the Japanese fleet was no longer there, so the cemeteries stood unattended. In Kura, the cemetery was completely in ruins - in the summer of 1945 it was badly damaged during American bombing, and then a strong typhoon passed through it. But there were veterans in the country who survived the horror of the war, and relatives of the sailors who went to the bottom along with the ships - these people continued to look after the cemeteries, periodically gathering to remember the fallen.
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Kure: view of the memorial cemetery. Photo by the author
Kure: cenotaph of the crew of the battleship Yamato. Photo by the author
Kure: cenotaph of the crew of the battleship Hyuga. Photo by the author
Kure: cenotaph of the crew of the aircraft carrier Hiyo. This monument was erected in 1983 in Kyoto. In 1995 it was moved to Wakayama, and in 2002 it was installed in the cemetery in Kure. Photo by the author
Kure: cenotaph of the crew of the cruiser "Aoba". Photo by the author
Kure: cenotaph of the crews of the cruiser Mogami (left) and patrol ship No. 82 (right). Photo by the author
During the American occupation and in the first years after it, they tried not to advertise this activity, fearing accusations of militarism. It was only in the early 70s that new cenotaph memorials began to be installed en masse in cemeteries in memory of those killed in World War II. At the same time, the crews of large warships usually had separate cenotaphs, while the crews of small ships were often commemorated in whole units. More general cenotaphs were also installed - for example, in memory of dead submariners or those missing on the island of Guadalcanal.
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Kure: cenotaph of the crews of the cruiser Itsukushima and the gunboat Hiei, who died in 1894 in a naval battle with the Chinese at the mouth of the Yalu River. Installed in 1895 in another place, they were moved to the cemetery in 1981. Photo by the author
Kure: cenotaph of submarine crews of the Kure naval district. Photo by the author
Kure: cenotaph of the crew of the destroyer "Shimakaze". The ship was lost on November 11, 1944, the monument was erected on November 11, 1965. Photo by the author
Kure: grave of British sailor George Tibbins. The only grave protected by a grille installed before 1945 - apparently to avoid incidents. Now the grave is looked after as carefully as the graves of Japanese sailors. Photo by the author
Kure: Monument to those killed in the Greater East Asian War (Japanese official name for the Pacific War). Erected on January 25, 1947 - the first monument to appear at the memorial cemetery in Kura after the war. Photo by the author
Since the early 70s, sailors of the Japanese Navy began to take official part in the care of memorial cemeteries and annual memorial ceremonies. However, to this day, memorial cemeteries are managed by public organizations, and the Navy has no official connection with them. The presence of a naval honor guard, orchestra and senior officials from naval bases at the annual memorial ceremonies is explained solely by the desire to develop friendly relations with the local population. Caution in matters related to World War II is still an integral part of Japanese policy.
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General view of the cemetery in Sasebo. Photo by the author
Cenotaph of submarine crews of the Sasebo naval district. Photo by the author
Sasebo: cenotaph of the crew of the battleship Haruna. Photo by the author
Sasebo: cenotaph of the crew of the battleship Hatsuse, who died on May 15, 1904 on the mines of the Russian mine strike Amur. In the same cemetery there is a cenotaph of the crew of the battleship Yashima, who died along with Hatsuse. Photo by the author
Most likely, for the same reasons of political correctness, the former naval cemetery in Yokosuka was renamed “Mamonzan Cemetery”, the cemetery in Kure is called “Nagasako Park”, and the cemetery in Sasebo is called “Higashiyama Park”. And only the smallest and most inconspicuous naval cemetery in Maizuru continues to be called the “Naval Cemetery in Maizuru.” Moreover, only in Yokosuka the former naval cemetery still allows the burial of private individuals on its territory, while in other cemeteries this is prohibited.
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Sasebo: cenotaph of the crew of the aircraft carrier Hiryu, sunk by the Japanese after the Battle of Midway in 1942. Photo by the author
Sasebo: cenotaph of the crew of the aircraft carrier Zuiho. Photo by the author
Sasebo: cenotaph of the crew of the aircraft carrier Taiyo. Photo by the author
Sasebo: cenotaph of the crews of the cruiser Chokai, sunk on October 25, 1944 in the Battle of Samar Island, and the destroyer Fujinami, which died two days later along with the entire crew and sailors rescued from the Chokai. Photo by the author
Sasebo: cenotaph of the crew of the cruiser Myoko. Photo by the author
The most noticeable monuments on the territory of cemeteries and memorials are the cenotaphs of the crews of the lost ships. But there are also cenotaphs of coastal units of the fleet, as well as military branches (for example, submariners). There are also general cenotaphs for those killed in wars and conflicts. In addition, until 1941, cenotaphs were installed in cemeteries for those killed and those who died due to accidents and even epidemics. Individual graves have also been preserved in naval cemeteries. Thus, on the territory of the cemetery-memorial in Kure there are 92 collective memorials, 157 individual graves of Japanese sailors and the grave of the English naval sailor George Tibbins, who died in 1907 during his ship’s visit to Japan. In total, about 130,000 dead sailors are commemorated at the former naval cemetery in Kura.
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Sasebo: cenotaph of the crew of the cruiser Haguro. A porthole raised from a sunken cruiser is built into the pedestal. Photo by the author
Sasebo: cenotaph of the crew of the cruiser Yahagi, who died on April 4, 1945 along with the battleship Yamato. Photo by the author
Sasebo: cenotaph of the crews of the destroyers of the 27th destroyer division: Ariake, Yugure, Shiratsuyu, Shigure. Photo by the author
Sasebo: cenotaph of the crew of the destroyer Hatsuyuki. Photo by the author
Sasebo: cenotaph of the crew of the destroyer Wakaba. Photo by the author
Sasebo: cenotaph of the crew of the destroyer Warabi, who died in a collision with the cruiser Jintsu in 1927. Topped by a statue of the bodhisattva Kannon, it is one of the most unusual cenotaphs in memorial cemeteries. Photo by the author
Cenotaph memorials range in appearance from opulent works of cemetery architecture to modest structures that can be confused with individual graves. There were no rules when installing them - everything was clearly determined by the tastes and financial capabilities of those who ordered this or that cenotaph. As a result, the monument to the naval construction team may look more impressive than the monument to the crew of an aircraft carrier. Older monuments are usually more modest in appearance than newer ones, and almost all individual graves are made in the form of identical stone pillars.
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Sasebo: cenotaph of the crew of the destroyer Sugi. Photo by the author
