A Look at Japanese Funeral Practices

Cremation in Japan, illustration from 1867
(Credit: Wikipedia)

Japan has the highest cremation rate in the world at over 99 percent, with some local governments even banning burials. Cremation was reserved for the rich until after World War II.  However, once the cleanliness and efficiency of the practice was recognized, cremation rates soared.

Interestingly, Japan also has one of the world’s highest funeral costs. A traditional Japanese funeral consists of a wake, cremation, burial in a family grave and, finally, a memorial service. The high cost of the funeral is largely due to the scarcity of burial plots in this densely-populated country. Though the ashes are generally buried, scattering of the ashes is becoming more common.

Cremation in Japan is typically accompanied by Buddhist rituals. At the funeral, the person who has died is given a new Buddhist name, with the belief that this will prevent them from returning if their name is called.

Japanese funeral arrangement (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Before the casket is taken to the crematorium, the family puts flowers around the head and shoulders of the person who has died. The family is present at the crematorium as the casket is moved to the cremation chamber. They wait through the two-hour process to receive the cremation remains once the process is complete.

The family then participates in separating the bones from the ashes — a fascinating ritual. They pull the bones from the ashes using large chopsticks, placing them in the urn in order to keep the body right-side up: first the bones of the legs and so forth, with the bones of the head last. The ashes are usually stored in a single urn, although sometimes they are split among family members.

Traditionally, the family takes the urn home and places it on an altar, where it stays for 35 days before being taken to the cemetery. Once there,  it is placed in the crypt of the family grave.

Bone-picking ceremony at a Japanese funeral
(Credit: Wikipedia)

A number of memorial services are held in the first 49 days after the funeral, though local customs vary. In some cases, memorial services are held daily for the first seven days; in others they are held periodically throughout the 49 days. In still others the services are held on the seventh, 49^th and 100^th day after the funeral. After that, memorial services continue periodically for years to come.