High-Tech Tombstones

JAPAN GRAVEIn keeping with the beliefs of the ancient Egyptians, who buried their pharaohs with all their treasured possessions for their journey to the after life, mobile phones are providing bereaved Japanese a channel to maintain contact with their loved ones after they pass on to the other side.

Through modern technology, the concept of reaching out and touching someone has now gone further than anyone could have ever predicted.

Japanese tombstone maker, Ishinokoe has developed a new tombstone that will contain a scanable bar-code behind a lockable door on the tombstones, allowing family members and friends to scan them with their mobile phones.

Once the bar-code is scanned, the phone will serve as an electronic scrapbook, providing a means for relatives to post and view different items that reflect on the life of their departed loved one, such as holiday photos.

This drastically alters the concept of a tomb, as it no longer will just store the remains of a loved one; it will now serve to honor that person’s life.

The stones are expected to go on sale next month and will cost a mere one million yen ($10,010 US).

[http://www.weirdasianews.com/2009/01/26/japanese-tombs-cell-phones-whos-calling/]

About Michael: Michael may be the most Japanese bald white guy you've ever met. He knows his way around Shinjuku with his eyes closed. He even knows how to use chopsticks. Michael speaks several languages, teaches martial arts, used to work on a ginormous network, plays guitar, writes naughty songs, and occasionally [read: rarely] updates his online translation playground Nihongo-a-go-go. Michael is a true Renaissance Man. He also happens to be unemployed at the moment. So if you need someone extremely cool, creative, smart, and who looks hot in a kilt for non-traditional creative-type work, feel free to contact him! You can also follow Michael on Twitter.
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Comments (2)

  1. Abraxus

    Well…that's certainly interesting but the problem with most technology is that it evolves so quickly that in a few years it has become obsolete. I would hate to think that every few years some technician would have to trudge out to the graveyards and start installing upgrades on tombstones to keep them compliant with current trends.

    It's sort of funny and morbid to me. A family goes to the graveyard and finds that their loved ones tombstone is 'Down for Maintenance' or something.

    ReplyJanuary 27, 2009 • 5:56 am

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