Remembrance Day 2011 -- Yokohama

[CDNSushi]

Commonwealth Cemetery in Hodogaya district, Yokohama, Japan. We attended this year as we have in the previous years, so here are a few snaps.


Prayers being offered at the cenotaph. We were joined this year by a few members of the BSA, as you can see in the photo.


The piper and bugler for this event.

Ministers of all the major faiths are invited to say prayers during the ceremony.






Canadian ambassador to Japan, Jonathan Fried, with a member of the Canadian armed forces laying a wreath at the cenotaph in the Canadian section of the cemetery. Virtually all those remembered here were not killed in combat, but perished as POWs in camps, due to the horrible conditions and mistreatment.


Aside from the Canadians interred here, there are also several New Zealanders, Brits, and Americans. They are here because they were killed or died while serving with Canadian regiments or on Canadian ships.


Here's me in front of the main cenotaph.


I chose to wear my Maple Leaf tartan kilt... Nobody at the ceremony, including the dozen-or-so Canadian diplomats, dignitaries, or businessmen knew anything about it. When I spoke to Ambassador Fried after the service, I'm not quite sure he really knew much about it either.... Lol. But being a diplomat, he knows how to look informed even when he has no clue about something... That's just the nature of the beast. It wasn't until much later in the day when we were in church when someone tapped me on the shoulder from behind and said, "Hey! You got a maple leaf tartan kilt! That is so cool!"

All the photos from the album are posted here. But as always, they can also be viewed in slideshow format on my picture website: http://www.zayith.com/photos/Remembrance%20Day%202011/#


Lest We Forget...

[Downunder Kilt]

Good show Jim, thanks for the photos and explanations.
Lest We Forget

[azwildcat96]

Sporting the lip warmer for Movember?

[CDNSushi]

Sporting the lip warmer for Movember?

I had it for Moctober and I'll likely have it for Mecember too... And Manuary... etc...

But for my Halloween costume I shaved the Vandyke and trimmed the upper lip down to a pencil 'stache in order to look more like a '20s era mobster.

It's grown a bit since then and I haven't decided whether or not to keep the French pencil-mustache look or not. Some of my friends seem to like it.... And I'm also contemplating a soul patch.

[azwildcat96]

soul patch.

Is that like a flavor saver?

[azwildcat96]

You should join the KABOOM group...

Seriously, that looks like a worthy event. Thanks for sharing the pics.

[CopperNGold]

Thanks for sharing the photos. Lest We Forget! It was a good reminder, and the Maple leaf tartan was a perfect choice.

Keep the 'stache!

[English Bloke]

Lest we forget.

[Macman]

Thanks for sharing the pics of your Remembrance Day, Jim.

[cessna152towser]

Excellent pics, Jim, such a poignant ceremony.
Lest we forget.