New kinds of mortuary services are emerging in Japan to reflect diversifying values, ranging from virtual graves on the Internet to the transferal of ashes into space.
The diversification trend began with a civic movement in 1991 to promote "sankotsu," or the scattering of ashes.
I Can Corp., a memorial services firm in Tokyo, recently launched an online grave service -- www.i-can.jp/nethakamairi.htm -- that allows customers to visit virtual graves over the Net.