Harikuko on February 8
Needle Memorial Service - a Japanese Tradition
Take your broken needles to a temple and bury them in tofu to show respect for their hard work and good service to you. What a wonderful tradition! Here are some websites from Japan with stories about the needle memorial service:
http://kikuko.web.infoseek.co.jp/english/harikuyo-wakamiya.html
http://www.pulseplanet.com/dailyprogram/dailies.php?POP=1550
http://www.japanlink.co.jp/ka/nenc2.htm