Useful Informatmion of Administrative & specialized procedures in Japan

Following on from last time, we will introduce various procedures to be carried out after a parent passes away in Japan, focusing on funeral arrangements, memorial services, sorting and disposing of the family home, and matters concerning the grave—excluding inheritance. This time, we cover memorial services in the Buddhist tradition and closing the grave.

　→　Click the link to read the previous column.

After a parent passes away in Japan, once urgent procedures like the funeral and inheritance are completed, people often feel relieved and, caught up in the busyness, tend to put off subsequent memorial services and grave maintenance. While this usually isn't a major issue, if you have no siblings in Japan and are the sole heir to the family home, you will eventually have to address it. If you carelessly leave things as they are, your own children will have to handle it in the future. Since they are a generation that knows nothing about Japan, they will likely be unable to do anything. Therefore, it is advisable to gain some knowledge now and take early action, while also considering relatives in Japan (other than siblings).

1. Buddhist Memorial Services

The following lists Buddhist memorial service procedures performed in chronological order, starting immediately after death. While steps (1) through (4) are often conducted together during the funeral, some individuals may choose not to perform steps (5) and beyond. This is because memorial services involve inviting relatives and associates to have a priest chant sutras, which can be somewhat burdensome for those residing overseas.

<A few days later>

(1) Otsuya: Held before the funeral service, attended only by close relatives and family

(2) Kokubetu-shiki: Attended by relatives, acquaintances, and work colleagues to bid farewell to the deceased

(3) Shukkann / Kaso: After the funeral service, the body is taken to the crematorium for cremation

(4) Shonanoka: Originally held on the seventh day after death, but it is now common to hold it at the funeral home after cremation. 

＜Subsequent Memorial Services at Key Milestones＞

(5) Shiju-Kunichi /Forty-ninth Day (49 days after death)

(6) Isshuki/ First Anniversary (1 year after death)

(7) Sankaiki /Third Anniversary (2 years after death)

(8) Nanakaikiy /Seventh Anniversary (6 years after death)

(9) Ju-sankaiki /Thirteenth Anniversary (12 years after death)

(10) Niju-sankaiki  /Twenty-third Anniversary (22 years after death)

(11) Niju-nanakaiki /Twenty-seventh Anniversary (26 years later)

(12) Sanju-sankaiki /Thirty-third Memorial Service (32 years later)

(13) Sanju-nanakaiki /Thirty-seventh Memorial Service (36 years later)

(14) Shiju-sankaiki /Forty-third Memorial Service (42 years later)

(15) Shiju-nanakaiki /Forty-seventh Memorial Service (46 years later)

(16) Gojukkaiki /Fiftieth Memorial Service (49 years later)

(17) Hyakkaiki /Hundredth Memorial Service (99 years later) 

4. Closing a Family Grave

A family grave (where ancestors or parents are buried) is considered ancestral property and is owned by a named individual. Consequently, the owner is responsible for maintaining the grave, including paying management fees. However, if you reside overseas and find it difficult to visit the grave or manage it, you can choose to proceed with closing the grave.

While referred to as “grave closure,” this does not mean removal (demolition). Procedurally, it generally involves reinterment to another grave. The remains are transferred from an individual family grave to perpetual care provided by the new administrator (temple or cemetery). Other options include natural burials (tree burial, sea burial), chosen based on religious neutrality or the deceased parent's wishes. Note that reinterment cannot be done arbitrarily; the following permits are required for the procedure:

・Relocation Permit Application: Submitted to the municipal office. Requires the signature and seal of the current cemetery administrator.

・Burial Certificate: Issued by the administrator of the current cemetery.

・Certificate of Acceptance: Issued by the receiving cemetery or temple. 

The actual procedure follows these steps:

① Consult with the cemetery administrator
For temple cemeteries (family temple), a “separation fee” may be required

② Decide on the new burial site
Determine and contract for a new resting place, such as a perpetual care grave or communal burial plot. (These are often affiliated with the previous cemetery)

③ Apply for reinterment permission
Submit a “Reinterment Permission Application” to the municipal office. Obtain the permit

④ Retrieve the remains
Arrange for a stonemason to open the grave and retrieve the remains.

⑤ Remove the gravestone and clear the site
Remove the grave and restore the site to level ground (costs apply).

⑥ Interment at the New Location
Inter the remains at a perpetual care grave or similar site for ongoing memorial services. Search for a new location at an existing temple, cemetery, or a conveniently accessible site (searchable online).
※ Some private and public cemeteries offer grave closure packages. These may handle all the above procedures on your behalf.

How did you find this article? While you may often receive advice about such Japanese customs from relatives, living overseas for an extended period means such opportunities become scarce. After your parents' generation passes away, I recommend taking some time to consider these matters.