There is a quiet revolution taking place in the attitudes and practices concerning death and burial in Japan -- striking changes that shed light not only on how Japanese people today view death, but also life and the relationships that underpin it. So this week and next, I will explore contemporary issues relating to death.
Over the past few years, Japanese people have been taking a much more diversified approach to burying their dead, and this is causing great concern among those who profit from the traditional arrangements, namely Buddhist temples and funeral parlors.
But in order to understand what is happening today, let's look briefly at the past.