Reader S.B. seeks advice on how to deal with arrangements following the death of a foreign relative in Japan.
This process can be very complicated for family and friends, especially if they are non-Japanese. You will need two documents: The first is the death certificate, or shibo todoke kisaishomeisho; the second is the Certificate for Burial or Cremation — maiso kaso kyokasho in Japanese. Both these documents can usually be obtained at the local police station.
However, permission for either document may not be granted in the first 24 hours after passing, as the police are duty-bound to investigate the circumstances of the death. If they conclude it was a natural death, permission will be granted. If there is any area of concern, they may order an autopsy, and this can take days.