Why do the Japanese perform funeral rites for a bamboo shoot?

Kyoto is famous as the most cultural city in Japan, where everyone feels it is natural to live in harmony and respect nature. Since last month, a bud of bamboo shoots has become a well-known iconic figure of Kyoto's Gion neighborhood.

Locals call it Takenokone, a pun on 'takenoko', the Japanese word for bamboo shoots and 'hat'. Takenokone appeared without warning right on the sidewalk of the intersection next to Yasaka Shrine, right in front of the Izuju sushi restaurant in late April. Because of its size and shape, it was turned into a traffic cone.

Japan has always been famous for its mix of cute, quirky, and cultural things

At first glance, people think this bamboo plant accidentally grew on the sidewalk, but the truth is that Norio Kitamura, owner of Izuju intentionally placed it there during the restaurant's renovation. Kitamura received a bamboo shoot about 80cm long from a friend and built it as a traffic cone, hoping the bamboo will make everyone feel better.

Japan has always been famous for its mix of cute, quirky, and cultural things. And during the Golden Week holiday, a lot of visitors come to Kyoto to see Takenokone. However, in mid-May, visitors were surprised to see at the former Takenokone site a real traffic cone, only the tip is covered with the outer skin of bamboo.

On May 13, a written notice was affixed to the top of the hat that read: 'On May 11, Takenoko-sama (sama: very formal in Japanese) went to heaven. Takenoko-sama has made great contributions during his life and has been loved by many.' The notice was written in the style of a memorial letter to the deceased in Japan, accompanied by a photo of the deceased. Takenokone while alive.

Notice of death of bamboo shoots.

The bamboo tree is also dedicated to a death poem and a solemn name, Mosoin Suzume Homare Asa Hori Takebayashi Koji, with the Takebayashi part meaning 'bamboo forest'.

After the announcement went viral on Twitter, numerous accounts offered their condolences:

'Please rest in peace'.

'Takenokone, I saw you working very hard in a video reportage. Now rest in peace'.

'What a wonderful thing to do in Kyoto'.