Floral Character for Life Memorializes Tragic Derailment 18 Years Ago
![](https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/10457335-1.jpg)
The kanji character for “life” formed by flowers is seen Saturday in a field near the site of the deadly derailment accident that occurred 18 years ago in Amagasaki, Hyogo Prefecture.
20:00 JST, April 4, 2023
AMAGASAKI, Hyogo — The kanji character for “life” had been formed with flowers in a field near the site of one of Japan’s deadliest train derailments, ahead of the 18th anniversary of the crash that killed 106 in Amagasaki, Hyogo Prefecture.
The flowers in memory of the deceased are from Japanese radish plants planted in a field along the JR Fukuchiyama Line track about 150 meters north of the site of the tragedy that occurred on April 25, 2005.
Hirofumi Hagimoto, a 69-year-old resident of the area, began planting the radishes in patterns of kanji characters in 2015. In autumn of last year, he planted the seeds in the shape of “sei,” meaning life. The flowers have come into full bloom about a week earlier than usual.
“I hope that people living now and those born in the future will see the character and it gives them pause to think about the accident,” Hagimoto said.
"Society" POPULAR ARTICLE
-
Typhoon Shanshan Forms, Slowly Moves Toward Japan; Govt Says Typhoon No. 10 Likely to Approach Japan Next Week
-
Typhoon Ampil Approaching Japan
-
Shizuoka Pref. City Offers Foreigners Free Japanese Language Classes; Aims to Raise Non-Natives to Daily Conversation Level
-
Typhoon No. 10 Forecast to Develop; Move into Pacific Ocean South of Japan on Aug. 26
-
Tokyo Companies Prepare for Ashfall From Mt. Fuji Eruption; Disposal Of Ash, Possibly at Sea, A Major Challenge
JN ACCESS RANKING