Yukyu En: A Journey Through Life and Death

Shunmyo Masuno's Award-Winning Crematorium Design

Yukyu En, or the Garden of Eternity, is a crematorium that stands apart from the rest. Its unique design is centered around a courtyard garden, with facilities designed to provide a serene environment for those bidding farewell to their loved ones. The crematorium consists of six gardens, each playing a unique role in the process of saying goodbye. The main garden, named "Tabidachi no niwa," is a modern Kare Sansui viewing garden that represents the journey from life to the afterlife.

The inspiration for Yukyu En comes from the Buddhist teaching that all things in the world do not remain as they are and continue to change. This understanding has been beautifully translated into the design of the crematorium. The stone arrangements in the garden represent the faraway mountains of the afterlife, while the lush organic space symbolizes the present world. The central white sand symbolically parts the two, representing the River Styx, the mythical river that the dead cross to reach the afterlife.

The crematorium is built over a sprawling area of 12,916 square meters, with the building occupying about 2,924 square meters. The stones used in the project include Aji stone, Shiraishijima stone, and Inujima stone, some of which were chiseled and processed to fit the design. The project was completed over a period of about a year and a half, from October 2001 to March 2003.

One of the challenges faced in the project was expressing people's feelings about death through the medium of landscape. However, Masuno and his team at Japan Landscape Consultants Ltd. were able to overcome this challenge by creating a calm and quiet space that allows people to deal with the sorrow of losing a loved one. The design of the crematorium is deeply connected with the memory of the hometown, providing a sense of familiarity and comfort.

Yukyu En has been recognized for its innovative design, winning the Platinum A' Landscape Planning and Garden Design Award in 2017. This prestigious award recognizes world-class, exceptional, and highly innovative designs that contribute to societal wellbeing. The award is a testament to Masuno's genius and his ability to create a space that not only serves a practical purpose but also provides a serene environment for reflection and acceptance of the inevitable cycle of life and death.