Austin College East Asian Studies

10/04/2026

09/26/2026

City of Angels welcomes King of the Monsters at Dodger Stadium.

09/26/2026

09/18/2026

09/18/2026

Two factory machines in Japan were given a formal farewell before being removed, reflecting a long tradition of showing respect to objects that have served people for years.

A 92-year-old former factory manager stood beside the equipment and performed a kiyoharai purification ceremony on the factory floor before the machines were taken away.

The practice has roots in Shinto ideas about treating long-used objects with care and respect. Similar customs appear elsewhere in Japan.

Worn sewing needles are sometimes taken to temples and placed in soft tofu during memorial ceremonies. Old dolls and calligraphy brushes can also receive formal send-offs. Sony’s robotic AIBO dogs have even been given funerals by priests when they could no longer be repaired.

For factory equipment, the meaning is simple: the machines worked for years, so they were thanked before being replaced.

Do you think workplaces should show more appreciation for tools and machines that served them for decades?

09/18/2026

The South Korean capital’s popularity is part of a wider appetite for adventure in international study. Some cities are harnessing it particularly well