So recently my niece passed away, she always loved Japan and Japanese culture and studied both in our home country as well as in Bangkok. Now, her family asked me to search for a Japanese quote to maybe quote at the funeral.
I love Japan but sadly haven’t read any Japanese literature, I know that she wasn’t a huge fan of anime but has read Spirited Away (which she loved).
So my question is, are there any famous quotes that come to mind or places I can look? Something that she could have heard of before maybe? I checked her facebook but I couldn’t find anything there.
I’m sorry if this is a vague request or not really the place to post it.
https://www.reddit.com/r/japan/comments/13261rs/for_my_niece_that_passed_away_im_searching_for_a/
6 comments
若くして逝く花は、美しさを残す。 (Wakaku shite yuku hana wa, utsukushisa wo nokosu.)
Translation: The flower that withers too young leaves behind its beauty.
This quote conveys the idea that even though a young person has passed away too soon, their beauty and the impact they had on others will remain.
Edit: and I’m very sorry for your loss. This is a quote I’ve heard before in japan, I’m not sure if there is an English equivalent but it’s something that Japanese people understand very well.
I hope she is at peace and that you are being strong in her honor.
I am sorry for your loss.
If she loved Spirited Away I’m sure she knew the famous song that plays over the credits – https://ghibli.fandom.com/wiki/Always_with_Me#English_translation_ – there are some lovely sentiments in it that you can pick out.
Actually chatGPT is amazing at this kind of thing. Between its answers and the suggestions here I hope you find a fitting tribute.
edit: It suggests this one
“Shizukasa ya / iwa ni shimiiru / semi no koe”
This haiku by Issa is a reflection on the fleeting nature of life, comparing it to a dewdrop that is a world unto itself, but exists only briefly before evaporating or falling away. The imagery of the dewdrop is a common motif in Japanese poetry, symbolizing the beauty and fragility of life. The haiku also contains a juxtaposition of the stillness of the world (shizukasa) with the sound of a cicada’s voice (semi no koe), adding to its overall sense of transience and impermanence. Issa was known for his poignant and empathetic poetry, and this haiku is one of his most famous and beloved works.
I’m so sorry for your family’s loss. I hope you find peace in this trying time.
I’m not sure if this is the type (feeling) of quote you’re looking for, but here’s a quote from Zeniba in Spirited Away that I like:
一度あったことは忘れないもんさ。思い出せないだけで。
(Ichido atta koto wa wasurenai monsa. Omoidasenai dakede.).
Literal translation: “Nothing that happens is ever forgotten, even if you can’t remember it.”
Movie script translation: “Once you meet someone, you never really forget them. It just takes a while for your memory to come back to you.”
“We must embrace pain and burn it as fuel for our journey.” – Kenji Miyazawa
I have yet to find the original Japanese but it is widely credited to this modern poet. He also wrote a famous piece on grief about his sister’s passing, I hope it can give you some comfort:
https://www.poetrynook.com/poem/morning-last-farewell