Romancing the stone

Today, and November 14th annually, is "Good Stone Day". There are a lot of commemorative days with the word "good" in them in November. That is because the 11 (11th month) of November looks like two "i"s, and two "i" reads "ii" which means "good" in Japanese.  Fourteen (14) reads as "i" (1) "shi" (4), which means stone in Japanese. Together 11/14 reads "Good Stone Day". It is also the anniversary of the death of Prince Shotoku, who is revered in the stone industry.

"Good Stone Day" was established and registered with the Japan Anniversary Association in 1992 by the Yamanashi Prefecture Stone Processing Industry Cooperative Association. The aim is to promote and showcase the craftsmanship of processing stone and its uses in tombstones, gardens, buildings, etc. 

I love how Japan has so many commemorative days to preserve culture and traditions and simultaneously honor ancestors. The "Good Stone Day" is a mark of respect to those in the stone industry particularly those in the tombstone industry.