On Friday, September 25, 2026, a graveside ceremony and a memorial service for the souls of the anatomical deceased, organized by the School of Medicine, were held at Tama Cemetery and Zojoji Temple.
Every year around the time of the autumnal equinox, the School of Medicine holds a memorial service for the souls of the anatomical deceased to pray for the repose of the souls of those who donated their precious bodies for the advancement of medical sciences education and academic research. The service welcomes the bereaved families of those who passed away during the year and is attended by faculty, staff, and students of the School of Medicine. This memorial service has been held at Zojoji Temple in Shiba Park, Minato City, since 1928 and is positioned as one of the most important events for the School of Medicine.
Prior to the memorial service, a graveside ceremony was held again this year in front of the School of Medicine's ossuary at Tama Cemetery. Along with the chanting of sutras by monks from Zojoji Temple, incense was offered by representatives of the School of Medicine, including Dean Toru Takebayashi.
Subsequently, the memorial service for the souls of the anatomical deceased was held in the main hall of Zojoji Temple. During the service, a memorial address was delivered by the Dean of the School of Medicine, and sutras were chanted by many monks, including His Eminence Kenju Ozawa, the 89th High Priest of Daihonzan Zojoji Temple. Approximately 300 bereaved family members, students, and related parties were in attendance.
Finally, representing the faculty and staff, Professor Yae Kanai of the Department of Pathology expressed respect and gratitude to the bereaved families for considering the significance of dissection and entrusting the bodies of their loved ones to the school, even amidst the shock and deep sorrow of losing a precious family member. She spoke of how the systematic dissection through which students learn the exquisite structure of the human body serves not only as the foundation of clinical medicine but also as the starting point for their journey as medical professionals by sincerely confronting the deep intentions of the souls who donated their bodies. Furthermore, she noted that since complex pathological conditions cannot always be fully elucidated through examinations performed during a patient's lifetime, pathological autopsies allow everyone from students and residents to senior physicians to learn from the findings in detail. The ceremony concluded with a pledge to continue striving for the advancement of medical care for the next generation.
Photography: Takeshi Kishi