A Study of Japanese Death Customs

Webster defines a Ritual as something that is “Done with accordance with social custom or normal protocol”

nature of the beliefs toward the meaning of life, death and the hereafter funerary rituals and strategies for body disposal the physical and symbolic boundaries between the worlds of the living and the dead the perceived role of the dead on the affairs of the living the degree of social stigma attached to those dying, dead, or bereaved the nature and conceptions of death in the arts orientations toward and rates of suicide, murder and abortion; death prevention and avoidance as a social goal the death socialization of children (including death themes in children's stories and games) and their involvement in funerary ritual the taboo status of the topic of dying and death in everyday discours the language used regarding death (Source:

About 84%-96% adhere to Shinto and Buddhism million Buddhists! Strong belief in filial piety Bronze Statue of son carrying Nara’s Todaiji grandmother up a shrine

Approximately 99.81% of all deceased people are cremated ( ntl/2007/StatsIF.html) ntl/2007/StatsIF.html Average cost of a Japanese funeral is approximately $30,000 USD! (One of the most expensive in the world) Buddhists believe that death is only the end of the physical body. In an ongoing process of reincarnation, a person's soul transforms and is reborn into this world until it attains enlightenment.

The New Japanese Graveyard fuses technology with the traditional. The cremated remains of your loved ones are stored in a personal sealed box which is kept in an underground vault. When you wish to access the box you scan an RFID card which then tells the system to bring up your box and place it in the prayer area.

It is KEY to note, that funeral customs differ from region to region! Thus, it is almost impossible to have a generic description! The following are common elements to a Buddhist Funeral

Washing of the Body Much alike to many other religions, it starts with the Washing of the Body. The body is washed by the family (now usually done by the hospital) and the body openings are stuffed with cotton. The body is then dressed in a suit/kimono and a cosmetic specialist will apply makeup. The body is then taken to the place where the wake is to be held

Arrangements: The arrangements are then chosen for the service, the type of food to be served, sometimes gifts for the guests, and a casket is chosen. Prior to the service, the body is put in dry ice at the mortuary, while the next of kin stays with the body. The body is placed in the casket. At this time, the family puts in money into the casket to pay for the “Toll across the River of the 3 Hells” Other material items are also put into the casket so that the deceased can enjoy it in the afterlife

The Ceremony If the ceremony is to take place at a home (most common), the house is set up to accept guests. A table is set up at the entrance of the home with a few people stationed to greet the guests. There is a “registry book” and the guests sign and present their condolence money, called “koden.” The “koden” helps pay for the expensive funeral, and depends on the relationship and wealth of the guest. At the altar, incense is burned and a cushion is placed so that guests can kneel in front of the altar.

The Wake: A Buddhist Priest arrives and is offered green tea. He then briefly speaks to the family, and begins the ceremony. He lights incense and reads a sutra, and will signal to members of the family to go to the incense to bow, offer incense, and bow again before returning to their seats. It is done in hierarchical order, and then visitors repeat the ritual. After the service has ended, a small gift might be given to each visitor as an token of appreciation When everyone leaves, the family stays up with the deceased in the same room for the night.

Funeral A day after the wake, the funeral takes place and a priest chants a sutra. The deceased receives a new name to prevent the return of the deceased if his name is called. The length of the name depends on the donation of the relatives to the temple. The coffin is then nailed shut by the mourners using a stone. Cremation The coffin is then placed on a tray in the crematorium and after, the relatives pick the bones out of the ashes and transfer them to the urn using large chopsticks. It is done from the feet, up to the bones of the head last to ensure the deceased is not upside down in the urn.

After Cremation The urn is either brought home or placed in a grave. The ceremony doesn’t end there, with some having a service every day for the first 7 days, but they all end on the 49 th day of service. After the 49 th day, the 1 st year Obon (Festival of the Dead) is the next important memorial service, followed by the 3 rd, 5 th, 7 th and 13 th year.

Death Rituals have existed in many religions since the dawn of time for many reasons. The Japanese take Filial Piety very seriously, and spend on average $30,000 USD on funeral services. The Japanese cremate more than 99% of their deceased, and mainly have Buddhist funerals. Their ceremony lasts for 49 days, after which the 1 st, 3 rd, 5 th, 7 th and 13 th Year of the Obon (Festival of the Dead) are the important years to revisit the grave