In the last year my friend Dennis as well as two elderly men in church have passed away. In every country it is important to understand how people view death as well as how they deal with departed loved ones. What exactly happens when someone passes away in Japan? How is it different from the West? While in language school years ago my wife was required to watch a movie called 'Departures' which characterizes the traditional Japanese method of a funeral process. If you have two hours and are interested it would be worth viewing. However, I am told that the process is much more streamlined these days with the events that were depicted in the movie becoming increasingly rare.
For instance, in the West after someone has been legally declared dead the various processes begin including funeral services, legal, and financial. The body itself is usually dealt with quickly. In Japan the process may take awhile with the body remaining at the house given typical Japanese beliefs about the afterlife. Often times Buddhist priests are involved in various rituals to prepare the body for the afterlife as well as for the cremation process in the family temple. Most bodies are cremated as per traditional beliefs as well as a general lack of space for burying bodies in Japan. Although some churches have graveyards for bodies or “bone-closets” to store the ashes. In Japan Buddhism has retained much of its relevance by concerning itself primarily with the process of death with various rituals, beliefs, and grave-site management. The entire process itself can be very costly, however if the family cannot afford to pay the state will actually subsidize some of the expenses.
Most Japanese consider themselves to be Atheist with cultural Buddhism adhered to because of ancient cultural expectations. The Buddhist view of life is that of a circle complete with multiple lives and deaths over a long period of time until they are able to break free and achieve nirvana by doing various good works. Rituals after death are very important in this mindset because it is believed that they are helping the departed one to the next step of their reincarnation which can take a certain amount of time. Death as well as the body itself are viewed as important events. Whereas Westerners tend to view death as a one time event and life as a line with a beginning and an end. Americans tend to put less importance on the body itself and more value upon the eternal soul and the afterlife. With that being said the views of death are entirely different, however they can lead to important conversations about spiritual matters. We usually do not think much about death until it impacts us personally. This rare time can be used greatly by God. Please pray for Japan.
