Page 27 - IJPS-8-2

International Journal of
Population Studies Japan’s death-laden society

3.5. Crematorium shortages and their culture framework that has long supported remaining relatives
impact through the emotional challenges caused by their grief and
Against the backdrop of ballooning deaths in Japan, an loss of deceased family members: Family unity through
unprecedented concern in the country’s modern history funeral reunion. Conventionally, cremation is conducted
has emerged regarding how individual bodies are handled in the late morning only an hour or two after the main
after death: A growing shortage of crematoriums. While funeral rite to make it easier for attendees from afar –
currently observed only in a limited number of urban immediate family members, remote relatives, friends,
areas, if persisting in the coming decades and growing and coworkers – to attend the event and return home on
nationwide in scale, crematorium shortages may also the same day (Suzuki, 2000). In response to the emerging
grow to become a broader cultural issue (Interview data, shortages, however, a growing number of families in Tokyo
Tokyo, July 16, 2021). As the fifth area of challenge, Japan is and Osaka areas are opting to cremate their deceased
pressured to address how the crematorium shortages may members outside the conventional hours while keeping the
contribute to undermining a cultural legacy that has long conventional date, 3 days after the death (Interview data,
supported remaining relatives in managing their grief and Osaka, 22 May 2020). Furthermore, some families choose
loss of the deceased. to use funeral homes and morgues located in rural areas so
as to carry out funerals in the conventional date and hours.
The shortages have first caused a substantial delay in Either way, despite their effort, an increasing number
the timing of carrying out cremations in Tokyo and Osaka of those families have suffered from a lower turnout in
areas. Across Japan, since the early 20 century at least, the funeral attendees mainly because these alternative
th
a cremation has typically been held on the 3 day after approaches interrupt some prospective attendees’ daily
rd
one’s death (Suzuki, 2000). Over the past several years, schedules (Interview data, Tokyo, 12 March 2021).
however, a rising number of residents in those areas have
come to wait for 10 days, even for 2 weeks in some cases, A funeral provides many with an opportunity to hold
on a waiting list to cremate their deceased family. In the a family reunion, which helps to give both the hosts and
coming decade, such a delay will likely begin to occur in attendees a sense of intimacy and social bonding. This
many other major cities across the country (Interview data, way, funerals have long served as a significant cultural
Tokyo, July 21, 2021). event in which people emotionally support each other by
sharing their grief, and thus mitigating their intense sense
This is a grim trend particularly to the case of Japan.
While not legally mandated, cremation, as opposed to of loss (Tsuji, 2006). In the coming decades, the ongoing
shortage in crematoriums will likely erode the role of such
burial, has substantially been the only method available to cultural legacies for an increasing number of families in
clear away corpses since the early 20 century. Even today, urban areas, possibly across the country, by causing the
th
in 2021, above 99.8% of all deceased bodies were cremated; need for funerals to be conducted outside the conventional
by far the highest rate across the world, rendering Japan
unique from an international perspective (Cremation time and space. While cultural impacts of this trend may
Society, 2022). The shortages are also escalated by a steady be profound, to date, no specific policy measure has been
decrease in the number of crematory facilities, particularly discussed at the national level to address this prospective
in urban areas, over the past decades. In 2000, there were challenge (Interview data, Tokyo, March 18, 2021).
about 2100 registered facilities across the country, but the 4. Conclusion: Call for the future research
number had dropped to nearly 1400 by year 2020 (Japan
Association of Environmental Crematory, 2022). Behind Today, Japan is on the verge of another demographic
this trend is active urban planning and renovations in transition that will significantly affect its society and
which many cities have engaged particularly since the culture – just in the coming decade, if not sooner, the
1980s. Both city governments and funeral industries have world’s first super-aged society will become the world’s first
experienced significant challenges in maintaining, let death-laden society. This prospective transition deserves
alone newly establishing, crematory facilities, and facing international attention as a new set of unique challenges
fierce opposition from local residents who are fearful of for the death-laden society begins to manifest.
negative impacts that the presence of crematory facilities This paper has contributed to advancing the growing
may create on the real estate value and public images of body of the literature on this emerging subject by exploring
their communities (Interview data, Tokyo, November 8, and outlining main areas of prospective policy challenges
2020). that Japan must swiftly address to mitigate the impact
Crematorium shortages are more than a public health of this transition. The challenges outlined in this paper
issue; this may contribute to eroding the national cultural include but are certainly not limited to five areas of policy

Volume 8 Issue 2 (2022) 21 https://doi.org/10.36922/ijps.v8i2.301