A leading insecticide company in Japan has drawn global attention after holding a memorial service for insects that died during product testing.
On December 23, around 100 employees from Earth Corporation gathered at Myodoji Temple in Hyogo Prefecture for a ceremony dedicated to bugs used in experiments.
The annual ritual has been observed for more than 40 years, according to Japanese media reports.
Praising insects that helped product development
Earth Corporation, founded in Osaka in 1892, is one of Japan’s biggest manufacturers of insecticides.
Its facilities raise more than a million cockroaches and more than 100 million fleas and other insects for testing.
As part of the ceremony, staff placed photos of various experimental insects — including mosquitoes, cockroaches and mites — in front of a Buddhist altar.
Employees then took turns offering incense and praying for what they described as the peaceful rest of the creatures used in research.
Tomohiro Kobori, head of the research and development department, said the service provides a moment of reflection.
“It is a valuable opportunity for us to look back and express our gratitude toward insects,” he told local media.
A solemn tradition rooted in respect
The hour-long ceremony includes monks chanting sutras and giving a sermon.
Previous themes have touched on Buddhist teachings, including the “Six Roots Purification,” which refers to overcoming worldly desires and sensory distractions.
Some employees admitted the ritual initially felt “awkward” or even “funny.”
However, many said the atmosphere eventually changed their perspective.
Mika Kawaguchi, an employee, noted that the bugs helped the company develop products that protect people suffering from insect-borne diseases.
Another researcher, Takayuki Nagamatsu, said mourning experimental creatures is a natural act for those who work with living organisms, adding that “even the smallest life is still a life.”
Debate online
The ceremony has sparked mixed reactions on social media.
Some commenters praised the company’s mindset and said it serves as a reminder that insects are living beings often sacrificed to help keep humans safe.
Others viewed the ritual as ironic, pointing out that the memorial is conducted by the same people responsible for their deaths.
Earth Corporation has said its philosophy is to coexist with nature, and has even rebranded its insecticides as “insect care products,” shifting focus to protection and disease prevention rather than extermination.
