Japan insecticide company holds memorial service for insects killed during product testing

The service lasted for roughly an hour and was conducted by a Buddhist monk.

A Japanese manufacturer of insecticides drew international attention after it emerged that the company conducted a formal memorial ceremony for insects used and killed during product research.

According to a report by South China Morning Post, the ceremony took place in December at Myohoji Temple in Hyogo prefecture in southern Japan. Approximately 100 employees from Earth Corporation attended the service, which was organised to acknowledge insects involved in laboratory testing.

The practice is not a recent development. Earth Corporation has reportedly observed the ritual annually for more than four decades. The company, established in Osaka in 1892, is one of Japan’s largest producers of insect control products. Media reports stated that its research facilities maintained more than one million cockroaches along with over 100 million other insects, including mosquitoes, fleas and mites, for experimental use.

During the service, photographs representing the insects were arranged before a Buddhist altar. Staff members participated by taking turns to light incense and offer prayers.

Tomohiro Kobori, who headed the company’s research and development division, described the ceremony as an opportunity for reflection. “This is a valuable opportunity for us to reflect on insects and express our gratitude,” he said.

The service lasted for roughly an hour and was conducted by a Buddhist monk. The ritual included the chanting of sutras and a sermon. Previous ceremonies had focused on themes such as “Six Roots Purification”, a concept in Buddhism connected to the six senses — sight, hearing, smell, taste, touch and consciousness — and the belief that freeing oneself from their illusions could improve one’s life.

Employees who had attended earlier ceremonies reportedly held mixed views when they first encountered the practice. Some initially described the experience as uncomfortable or humorous. Others later said they had come to view it differently.

Mika Kawaguchi, an employee, told the outlet, “The bugs helped us develop products that save lives and assist those affected by insect-borne diseases.”

Another researcher, Takayuki Nagamatsu, said, “For researchers working with experimental animals, mourning is a natural act. Even the smallest life is still a life.”

The ceremony also became a subject of online discussion. Social media users expressed a wide range of opinions, from approval to criticism.

One user wrote, “I respect this mindset. I hate bugs, but they are also part of life.”

Another commented, “The insects killed by insecticides may not see themselves as pests. Therefore, I would like to thank the memorial service on behalf of those who use insect killers.”

A third wrote, “Humans kill animals to live comfortably, but we must remember we are taking lives.”

Others viewed the ritual more sceptically. One post described the event as contradictory, stating, “I still find this ironic. For insects, having the culprits attend their funeral must be very unpleasant.”

Japanese broadcasters, including Asahi Broadcasting Television, also reported on the ceremony, confirming that the observance had continued for over 40 years.

Earth Corporation’s stated corporate philosophy emphasised coexistence with nature. The company publicly described its guiding principle as “to live in harmony with life and achieve coexistence with the Earth”. In line with this approach, it had reclassified many of its offerings as “insect care products”, framing them as tools for disease prevention rather than simple extermination.

According to SCMP, Buddhism, which formed the religious basis of the ritual, remained one of Japan’s major belief systems. Government statistics from 2013 estimated that approximately 84.7 million people in the country identified as Buddhist. Some adherents argued that in modern societies, animals and insects were frequently killed due to fear or convenience rather than direct threat, reflecting human-centred decision-making.