Japan's end-of-life industry is struggling to keep up with the high number of deaths amid the graying of society, but some companies are coming up with new products and services in response.
According to the health ministry, a record 1.57 million people died in 2022, up from 1.25 million in 2012, and issues like a lack of crematoriums or space in mortuaries have made headlines in recent years.
Indeed, a survey published by the All Japan Cemetery Association in June found that 27% of funeral homes who responded felt that they were short of facilities to store dead bodies.