Discuss how funerals are conducted in Japan today.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

In towns and cities today, the burial of cremated remains has replaced full-body burial for reasons of space and cost. The immediate family members of the deceased keep themselves in their houses. The men of the neighborhood gather near the family home to make the items required for the funeral, including paper flags containing prayers, paper processional lanterns, and a wooden candlestick. The women prepare the food required for the feast, given before the burial. One woman of the neighborhood has the special honor of sewing a white pilgrim’s cloak that will shroud the body for its journey to the land of the dead. Meanwhile, the men who will be pallbearers dig a grave in the cemetery.

The spirit of the dead is thought to still be present and listening, so as the relatives shroud the body, they politely describe out loud the tasks they are performing. To mask the odor of death, burning incense is kept nearby. So that the spirit may pay the ferryman for passage into eternity, a bag with a few coins is put near the body; also, meditation beads are entwined in the dead man’s hand. A fan is laid in the coffin, together with a small favorite object belonging to the deceased. The Buddhist priest tells the spirit of the dead to begin its journey to the land of the dead, and other ancient formulas are recited. On completing their tasks, the family members wash their hands in saltwater.