The annual Vancouver Island Obon Cemetery Tour will visit the Cumberland Japanese Cemetery Saturday, Aug. 10.
The Vancouver Island Obon Cemetery Tour is annually sponsored by the BC Jodo Shinshu Buddhist Temples Federation, which is a group of temples belonging to the Jodo Shinshu Hongwanji-ha denomination of Japanese Pure Land Buddhism.
The Vancouver Island Obon Cemetery Tour is designed to pay respect to the Japanese people who made their lives on Vancouver Island, and have long since passed on. Many of the people buried at the cemeteries on Vancouver Island no longer have descendants living nearby.
The Obon Cemetery Tour is a way to acknowledge these pioneers and let them know they are not forgotten, according to Rev. Grant Ikuta, minister, Steveston Buddhist Temple.
As Rev. Ikuta says in his poster for this tour, "The other purpose of the Obon Cemetery Tour is to foster fellowship and understanding as we welcome people from all nationalities and faith denominations in paying tribute to those who have gone before us. Your participation in the visitation is greatly appreciated."
The Cumberland Cemetery Service will be a 2 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 10 at the Cumberland Japanese Cemetery, (on Cumberland Road).
Obon Cemetery Services will also happen in Chemainus, Port Alberni, Nanaimo, Duncan and Victoria over that weekend.