Generally, people who believe Buddhism in Japan hold the first memorial service called "Shijyu-ku-nichi" （四十九日） 49 days after their loved one’s death. People hold the next memorial service called "Issyu-ki"（一周忌） one year later, and far next "San-kai-ki"（三回忌）three years later, and so on. They are called "Houyou"（法要）.
Last Saturday, my mother, brother and I held "Shijyu-ku-nichi" in a temple and about twenty relatives attended it to pray for my father's happy life in Heaven.
I have no religion, I had never understood the meaning of this kind of ceremony. But, I could first understand the existence of it after I experienced my father' s death. In my thought, these kind of religious ceremonies are held to ease unbearable sadness of people who have lost their loved ones. In other words, people have established this wise way to forget the sadness through a long period on time. Now, I can recognize the importance of these things.
The 2 days before "Shijyu-ku-nichi", a "Butsudan"（仏壇） has been placed in my mother's house. In (Japanese) Buddhism, believers say that a person become "Hotoke-sama"（仏様） after his death. And they pray for "Hotoke-sama" before "Butsudan".
Do you think how much "Butsudan" is? The price may surprize you very much, I think.
This half a year was a hard time for me, my father died, I suffered acute hepatitis, and my mother worsened her knee's condition. But, the operation on my mother's knee was success and I was relocated to a new section after "shin-nendo"（新年度） has started. Now, I expect that everything go well.
My son belongs to a wind music club of his high school. Last Sunday, I went to the club's annual concert with my wife, daughter and mother-in-law.
Last Wednesday, I found a cherry tree in a station beginning to blossom on my way to my office. I could feel the coming of Spring by it. And, I also discovered a nest of a bird in the tree. This small event brought a little bit happier feeling to me.
