March 25, 2008
Last call: Japanese tombs link up with cell phones
According to Reuters, bereaved Japanese will be able to keep in touch with their loved ones beyond the grave by using mobile phones to scan bar-coded tombstones and view photos and other information about the deceased.
"Ishinokoe, a Japanese tombstone maker, will place the codes behind lockable stone doors on the tomb so only relatives with a key can scan them.
The idea was to create a tomb that would not just be a site for storing the remains of a person, but a place to honor the deceased, the company said in a press release.
Using their mobile phone displays, relatives can post and view different items that reflect on the life of their departed loved one, such as holiday snapshots.
A sample Web site displayed one photo showing a man posing with his family on a boat, and another showing the same man and a woman in front of a cluster of skyscrapers.
The stones will go on sale next month and cost around 1 million yen ($10,010).
But those who neglect their filial obligations should be warned -- the code will also allow other relatives to see a list of people who have recently visited the grave."
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