Hanako Mourned in Thailand

Let's make history with two episodes in a row in memory of an elephant. The passing of Hanako made the headline in her homeland Thailand and a ceremony was held in Ayutthaya, May 29, to mourn the death of a live symbol of friendship between Japan and Thailand.

The tourist facilities in Ayutthaya that feature elephants on various occasions hosted yesterday a ceremony mourning the death of Hanako with her photo and a banner above reading "May Hanako Rest in Peace" . A number of well wishers joined the ceremony.

The facilities official told how worthy a life Hanaka had lived in Japan as a symbol of goodwill between Thailand and Japan and how many tourists she had attracted from Japan to Thailand. A priest recited a sutra and forty odd well wishers mourned over the passing of Hanako.

A 38-year-old Thai woman told in tears:

"So touched just to think how many Japanese children Hanako had made happy. She was a bridge of friendship over the distance between Thailand and Japan.

"I'm so proud of her. I sincerely hope she will rest in peace."

The death of Hanako is reported on extensively across Thailand to suggest how dearly the Thai people received the news.

True, Japan and Thailand are closely tied today thanks to Hanako and her share of contribution. It is essential that her coming to Japan coincided with an unprecedented social unrest in Japan immediately after the war when the young ones were helplessly in need of psychological comfort.

Hanako filled that mental vacuum in the young minds in Japan.

It is comforting to know that Hanako died peacefully with little sign of agony. I'm sure there will be an image of Hanako carved and erected somewhere in Inogashira. There, Hanako shall live forever as a symbol of friendship and goodwill. May her soul rest in peace. (Nathan Shiga)