And just when we thought Japan couldn’t get any more interesting, they come out with yet another innovative invention that, quite frankly, blows our minds!
As reported by Japaaan Magazine, a new Bluetooth tombstone, called Hikari, has been introduced to make communal tombs just that bit more personal.
Located in the Yachiyo Yukyu no Sato Cemetery in Chiba Prefecture, the headstone, using an electronic screen, uses BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) technology to detect who is approaching the tomb before changing its display image. Family members who go to pay their respects must bring a special talisman to activate the tombstone’s Bluetooth.
When approaching, the screen will display the name, date of death and even photo of your loved one before returning to its default image, the word ‘光’ (Hikari; light), when you leave.
Why Bluetooth?
Before you pull out your Spotify playlist and try to connect your songs, this Bluetooth tombstone was actually made for a more practical reason.
While most people get buried on their own plot after their passing, some aren’t always so privileged to do so. For those who passed without family nearby or who can’t afford to buy their own plot of land for their loved ones, communal tombstones are a cheap alternative.
But while it may be cheaper and more cost-effective to use a communal tombstone, for those who wish to truly mourn their loved ones, it can be a little too impersonal.
However, the Hikari tombstone wishes to change that. With its Bluetooth technology adjusting its screen information according to the family visiting, it helps create the atmosphere of a personal tomb and headstone without having to fork out the money to do so.
Although Hikari electronic headstones aren’t super cheap either, costing about 290,000 yen (RM11,364.82) to have one, they’re still a lot more affordable than other alternatives out there.
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