October 27, 2020
On Wednesday, September 23, 2020, a graveside ceremony and a memorial service for anatomical donors, hosted by the School of Medicine, were held at Tama Cemetery and Zojoji Temple.
Every year during the autumn equinox, the School of Medicine holds a memorial service for anatomical donors to pray for the souls of those who have graciously donated their bodies for the advancement of medical education and academic research. The service welcomes the bereaved families and is attended by faculty, staff, and medical students. This service has been held at Zojoji Temple in Shiba Park, Minato-ku, since 1928 and is considered one of the most important events for the School of Medicine. This year, due to the spread of COVID-19, the service was held with only representatives from Keio University and medical students in attendance, while taking precautions to prevent infection.
This year again, prior to the memorial service, a graveside ceremony was held in front of the School of Medicine's charnel house at Tama Cemetery. Accompanied by the chanting of sutras by monks from Zojoji Temple, incense was offered by affiliates of the School of Medicine, led by Dean Masayuki Amagai.
Following this, the memorial service for anatomical donors was held in the main hall of Zojoji Temple. During the service, a memorial address was read by the Dean of the School of Medicine, and prayers were offered for the repose of the souls through the chanting of sutras by numerous monks, led by the 88th Head Priest, Archbishop Kisei Yagi. Finally, on behalf of the faculty and staff, Professor Yoshiaki Kubota of the Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, expressed sincere gratitude for the body donations made for the advancement of the medical sciences, and conveyed respect and appreciation to the souls and their bereaved families. He also stated that when teaching, he places the utmost importance on students approaching dissection with a deep appreciation for the noble intentions of the deceased donors. He expressed his belief that the medical students, who learn so much through dissection, will become excellent physicians in the future and, in turn, give back to the bereaved families. He concluded his remarks by pledging to continue to approach medicine and medical care with renewed dedication and contribute to their advancement, bringing the service to a close.