Japanese Surgeon's Daily Life

Farewell Bonfire

　　My father passed away in January this year. In Buddhist teaching, his spirit is said to come back to his original place and stay there for several days during a certain term called "Obon". On the first day of the "Obon", the bereaved are supposed to light a fire called "Mukae-bi", a welcome bonfire, for the bonfire to work as the beacon for the returning spirit from the next world. I lit the Mukae-bi several days before and I lit "Okuri-bi", the farewell bonfire today.
　　I'm full of a sense of loss and recalled lots of memories with him, seeing the Buddhist materials burn. After a while, I put it out, hoping that his spirit would come back next year.

Segaki-e; 大施餓鬼会

　　I've been writing this blog for 18 years, and every entry became a substitute of my diary now. I'm going to record a Buddhist service, which is called Segaki-e, for my departed father today.
　　The family temple brings together people who lost their beloved ones over the past year and holds a Buddhist mass, Segaki-e, which is a service for the benefit of suffering spirits. My wife and I attended the mass to pray for my father's happiness in the next world.

(Vocabulary)
菩提寺　family temple

Hiroshima

　　I took my car to the repair shop in Hiroshima city on Aug. 4th. Hiroshima city isn't far away from my hometown, but I knew only the principal sightseeing sites. I was going to wander in the city and carried my electricity-assisted bicycle with me. During the repair, I rode my bicycle around the downtown.
　　Lots of people were preparing the ceremony being held two days later in Peace Memorial Park. I was able to drop in at the Atomic Bomb Museum, but didn't. When I visited the museum for the first time long ago, I was so upset and shocked that I wasn't able to stifle tears. I just didn't want to ride my bicycle with tears. The Government didn't show those pictures and various ruins to all the national leaders at the G7 in May. I partly understand the Government either for the good or for the bad, however I'd like them to take a close look at every exhibit.
　　I heard that Aug. 6th of 78 years ago was considerably hot. Civilians whose skin was burned off dove into the river for water and coolness, and got drowned.
　　August is the month when every Japanese laments the victims of the last war.

(Vocabulary)
either for the good or for the bad 事の是非はさておき