I would like to write about Ryo’s funeral which was held on April 7th, 2013 as well as what I felt there.
I am friend of Ryo’s sister, so I had the honor to attend the funeral.
When I saw the family after Ryo’s accident, they were busy with preparing for the lawsuit while they were dealing with deep sorrow back in Japan. They were facing the fact that they must file the case to find out the truth. The lawsuit is not familiar to most of us, and neither for the Oyamadas. I could not help but feel their pain, spending their days with anxiety towards their first lawsuit in a foreign country as well as their indescribable sadness and distress.
Even though they, in such difficult situation, tried to accept Ryo’s death and move on. Therefore, they decided to plan his funeral in a special way in order to switch their feeling.
Ryo’s cremation was held in New Jersey a couple days after the accident and the family came back to Japan with his ashes. As his father describes, Ryo’s body was damaged really badly and they thought it will be too hard for his friends and rest of the family to see him
Another reason that the family decided to hold the funeral is his friends. They were waiting for him to come home and wanted to see him off together. I am one of them.
Ryo loved the sea, so the funeral was held at the ocean view place in Tarumi City, Hyogo Prefecture in the afternoon of April 7th. The rain which started the day before has stopped and it became sunny.
The family displayed pictures of Ryo when he was alive, which are filled with young energy, and the vivid photos he took in New York. The guests were able to feel how he lived, talking about his memories.
We all offered flowers to Ryo’s sprit in front of his ashes and his portrait.
I am friend of Ryo’s sister, so I had the honor to attend the funeral.
When I saw the family after Ryo’s accident, they were busy with preparing for the lawsuit while they were dealing with deep sorrow back in Japan. They were facing the fact that they must file the case to find out the truth. The lawsuit is not familiar to most of us, and neither for the Oyamadas. I could not help but feel their pain, spending their days with anxiety towards their first lawsuit in a foreign country as well as their indescribable sadness and distress.
Even though they, in such difficult situation, tried to accept Ryo’s death and move on. Therefore, they decided to plan his funeral in a special way in order to switch their feeling.
Ryo’s cremation was held in New Jersey a couple days after the accident and the family came back to Japan with his ashes. As his father describes, Ryo’s body was damaged really badly and they thought it will be too hard for his friends and rest of the family to see him
Another reason that the family decided to hold the funeral is his friends. They were waiting for him to come home and wanted to see him off together. I am one of them.
Ryo loved the sea, so the funeral was held at the ocean view place in Tarumi City, Hyogo Prefecture in the afternoon of April 7th. The rain which started the day before has stopped and it became sunny.
The family displayed pictures of Ryo when he was alive, which are filled with young energy, and the vivid photos he took in New York. The guests were able to feel how he lived, talking about his memories.
We all offered flowers to Ryo’s sprit in front of his ashes and his portrait.
Everyone was sad, confused with his sudden death, and could not believe that they lost their young friend this soon.
At the ceremony, a movie which his friend made for him was played. There, Ryo’s pictures, which were taken by his own view point, told us the story of his life, how much he loved New York City and enjoyed living there for his dream.
His friends and his old co-workers sent him message too. We all were reminded of his big smile that makes others smile, his friendly personality, and his kind acts. And also, we could not help but be mortified from such a great person’s life was taken away this way.
And his father, Tsukasa expressed his acknowledgement.
At the ceremony, a movie which his friend made for him was played. There, Ryo’s pictures, which were taken by his own view point, told us the story of his life, how much he loved New York City and enjoyed living there for his dream.
His friends and his old co-workers sent him message too. We all were reminded of his big smile that makes others smile, his friendly personality, and his kind acts. And also, we could not help but be mortified from such a great person’s life was taken away this way.
And his father, Tsukasa expressed his acknowledgement.
Even I, who do not have any children, feel his pain towards this tragedy. I thought his feeling must be indescribably sad, losing his dearest son, and he has to live with that feeling.
At the end of the funeral, we released balloons to celebrate his short life and see him off to the heaven with 123 friends. It was a windy day and so the balloons are carried off by the wind fast.
At the end of the funeral, we released balloons to celebrate his short life and see him off to the heaven with 123 friends. It was a windy day and so the balloons are carried off by the wind fast.
Ryo made a lot of effort in New York in proportion of his ambitious that he wants to improve himself and to be devoted to his parents. At his school, he was able to move on to the advanced class very quickly and he once emailed his father “I did not know that studying and going school can be this much joy.”
All the attendance at the funeral was looking forward to seeing Ryo grown up in New York.
If I may borrow the words from his friend, they were supposed to get old together, sharing their important moments of their lives.
And that should have happened in reality.
NYPD took Ryo’s life away in the middle of his dream and put the Oyamadas in despair, the family full of love and warmth. I am having a hard time understanding the fact that NYPD has not shown any sincerity to the family.
It might be difficult in the America’s society system, but I hope that the progress of the lawsuit moves fast and they find the truth soon so they move on.
All the attendance at the funeral was looking forward to seeing Ryo grown up in New York.
If I may borrow the words from his friend, they were supposed to get old together, sharing their important moments of their lives.
And that should have happened in reality.
NYPD took Ryo’s life away in the middle of his dream and put the Oyamadas in despair, the family full of love and warmth. I am having a hard time understanding the fact that NYPD has not shown any sincerity to the family.
It might be difficult in the America’s society system, but I hope that the progress of the lawsuit moves fast and they find the truth soon so they move on.