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In 2024, the sales value of funeral services in Japan amounted to close to billion Japanese yen, an increase compared to the previous fiscal year. There are several thousand funeral service businesses operating in Japan.

 Modern funerals in Japan 

The customs of Japanese funeral services vary depending on region, religion, and religious denomination. Most modern funeral services in Japan are, however, conducted with Buddhist rites. Although the connection of the Japanese citizens with Buddhist temples has become sparser with the times, it is still common to invite a priest from a temple to a funeral and receive a sutra reading and dharma name for the deceased family member. A modern Buddhist funeral usually starts with a wake in the evening of the first day. On the second day, a cremation is carried out after a funeral ceremony. It is most common to request companies that specialize in the funeral business to coordinate the services and hold a funeral at a funeral home. In this manner, families can complete the whole procedure of a funeral, also a cremation, in one place.

 Expenses for a funeral 

A bereaved family in Japan has plenty to manage when it comes to the financing of a funeral. If the family is willing to hold a usual funeral with Buddhist rites, costs for a funeral service, expenses for a ceremonial meal and reciprocal gift for attendees, and alms for a priest engaging at the funeral are required. Additionally, families that do not own a family grave or a family Buddhist altar would need to purchase those items anew. Due to its high financial requirements, it is with increasing frequency that families hold a one-day funeral without a wake or a funeral without a ceremony to minimize the costs. In order to reduce the financial burden and stress of the remaining family members, the end-of-life planning “shukatsu” has also gained popularity in the recent Japanese society.