Japanese funeral rites in late modernity

Abstract

Funerals in Japan are always a highly serious and solemn affair. Japanese funerals whether they are ancient or modern are always official activities with ancient traditional practices. Often, there are no bells, whistles, drums, or fanfare. The only exception is when the Japanese Shinto Buddhist priest beats a single and mournful drum. In 1867, Emperor Komei died and it took over a month to get him buried. This was because of political upheaval and other intervening requirements. When Emperor Meiji died in July 1912, the courtiers also had to go through several weeks of preparation before the onset of public mourning. Naturally, mourning by the immediate royal family members always took precedence. Later, when Emperor Taisho’s funeral had to take place, it also took 1 month of rituals and preparations before public mourning could commence. Taisho’s funereal activities followed Emperor Meiji’s funeral model. Japanese funerals were also costly in the past as they are today. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, a single Japanese funeral would cost at least US$30,000 compared to a few thousand in Singapore and other Asian states. Funerals are even cheaper in Europe and North America. In Japan, each person or family attending a funeral wake would have to present to the widow or widower a cash gift of a few 100,000 yen. This cash gift is called koden. Japanese funeral rites are part of a set of clearly defined rituals that reflect the nature of the society and the status or class of the deceased. This article focuses on the important aspects of Japanese Shinto-Buddhist funeral rites.