F E S T I V A L ／ FEST-158
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Kujira Ekō (Whale Memorial Service)
鯨回向（くじらえこう）くじらえこう
D A T E2026-04-25
A Buddhist memorial rite for whales transmitted in the Kayoi area of Nagato City, Yamaguchi, rooted in early modern whaling culture. Held by Kōganji Temple and the Kayoi Whaling Preservation Society, it centres on two heritage objects of the early modern Kayoi whaling guild: the Aomijima Whale Tomb (a burial mound for whale foetuses removed from harpooned mother whales) and the 'Geigei Kakochō' register, in which captured whales were given Buddhist posthumous names. Both are designated Yamaguchi Prefectural Historic Sites.
N O P H O T O
H I G H L I G H T S
Highlights
- 01Yamaguchi Prefectural Designated Historic Sites: Aomijima Whale Tomb and Geigei Kakochō
- 02Tomb for whale foetuses established by the early modern Kayoi whaling guild
- 03Tradition of conferring Buddhist posthumous names on whales via the Geigei Kakochō
- 04Continuing memorial service led by Kōganji Temple and the Kayoi Whaling Preservation Society
- 05A surviving representative example of marine-life Buddhist memorial rites
D E E P D I V E
Deep Dive
R E F E R E N C E