Japanese insecticide firm holds annual bug memorial, sparks social media debate

The prestigious Japanese insecticide company Earth Corporation has sparked a lively social media discussion after holding its annual memorial service for insects killed during testing.

The ceremony includes Buddhist monks chanting and burning incense, as well as placing photographs of mosquitoes, cockroaches, mites, and fleas on a Buddhist altar. Ironically, the employees, some of whom are responsible for the passing of the insects, offer incense and pray for their peaceful rest.

The social media reaction was, on the whole, positive, with one spectator commenting: “The insects killed by insecticides may not see themselves as pests. Therefore, I would like to thank the memorial service on behalf of those who use insect killers.”

This holistic approach was fittingly echoed by employee Mika Kawaguchi, who traced the company's history (which dates back to 1892) and the ritual itself, which originated in the mid-1980s.

“The bugs helped us develop products that save lives and assist those affected by insect-borne diseases,” she told Oricon News.

Buddhism is ingrained in Japanese culture

Not everyone agreed, however.

“I still find this ironic. For insects, having the culprits attend their funeral must be very unpleasant,” observed one onlooker, according to the South China Morning Post.

Buddhism is one of the major religions in Japan, and while numbers vary, Wikipedia estimates that approximately 46 million people (over a third of the population) adhere to these beliefs.

That might help explain the philosophical take on the grieving process, as highlighted by another Earth Corporation employee, Takayuki Nagamatsu.

“For researchers working with experimental animals, mourning is a natural act. Even the smallest life is still a life,” he explained.

Earth Corporation has itself transitioned into an “insect care” brand, with the onus on protecting people from diseases that bugs carry, rather than extermination, for example.

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