Death (affordable Cremation, burial etc.) in Japan

[goodandbadjapan]

Having any kind of commercial funeral would make things a lot more expensive, as would having a grave at a temple or similar. Buddhist funerals are also extremely expensive, with some kind of 'buying your way into heaven' thing where you pay more to get a longer name which is more prestigious.

This is nuts to me, but seems most do pay for that long name thing and a friend of mine is despairing at the amount her father is throwing at a priest for things related to her late-mother's burial etc. My father-in-lw passed away a couple of years ago and whilst my mother-in-law does still pay for things like the memorial prayers at the temple, and paid for the posthumous name etc, I think she actually made a profit on the funeral itself! It was expensive but she received a lot of cash from guests and that more than covered it. When it is my time, however, I suspect the cash gifts will barely cover the guest's bentos! Just put me out on burnable day and hope there isn't a nosy obasan being officious about the correct day for dead foreigners.

[captainspoke]

... When it is my time,... Just put me out on burnable day and hope there isn't a nosy obasan being officious about the correct day for dead foreigners.

When our dog died my wife got a kind of disposal ticket from the combini. The ticket choices were that the pet would be cremated separately, or it would be done in a group/batch with other pets (cheaper). Part of the service was that they came and picked her up. We left her wrapped in her blanket that she slept on, and put that into a largish cardboard box. The guy who came just took the box and put it in the van.

So, something similar for people?

***

On the other hand, one component of an emergency fund for someone at my stage of life, is that it should be enough to cover a funeral.

[Cracaphat]

My Ol' lady was saying there's a thing called "Memorial Jewellry." Basically out of the bones making jewellry!!

https://www.towani-tomoni.com/jewelry/

[AreTheyTheLemmings?]

Sorry to exhume this thread, but something occurred to me last night and it made me wonder.

What happens if I die when overseas? I mean, how will they know to repatriate my body to Japan? My passport isn't a Japanese one (and I assume that's the case for many of us), so won't the local authorities assume my body should be sent to the country of my passport?

[RetireJapan]

Sorry to exhume this thread, but something occurred to me last night and it made me wonder.

What happens if I die when overseas? I mean, how will they know to repatriate my body to Japan? My passport isn't a Japanese one (and I assume that's the case for many of us), so won't the local authorities assume my body should be sent to the country of my passport?

I would guess they would try to contact your next of kin, etc. before doing anything like repatriating a body. My brother died in Sweden and the police contacted the British embassy who contacted my uncle who told me.

[AreTheyTheLemmings?]

I would guess they would try to contact your next of kin, etc. before doing anything like repatriating a body. My brother died in Sweden and the police contacted the British embassy who contacted my uncle who told me.

Thanks for responding. Quick questions: They contacted the British embassy so I assume he was a UK passport holder? And where was he was repatriated to?

[RetireJapan]

I would guess they would try to contact your next of kin, etc. before doing anything like repatriating a body. My brother died in Sweden and the police contacted the British embassy who contacted my uncle who told me.

Thanks for responding. Quick questions: They contacted the British embassy so I assume he was a UK passport holder? And where was he was repatriated to?

Yes, UK citizen. We did the funeral etc. in Sweden.

[AreTheyTheLemmings?]

Got it. Thanks.