Return to site

FUNERALS

Most funerals in Japan are done with Buddhist rites.

· CULTURE

We usually hold a ceremony called “Tsuya” with our families and relatives the day before the funeral. A Japanese wake is called "Tsuya". It takes place in the house of the deceased or a funeral hall. It means that we spend the last day with the person who passed away while keeping the light on the candle. On the next day, at the funeral, Buddhist monks recite a sutra and people burn incense one by one for the response of the departed soul. After that, we put many flowers in the coffin and go to a crematory for a cremation. We bring back the remains to our houses and keep it until another Buddhist service, 49 days after the death of the departed. The Buddhist service is very important and is called the 49th day after death. Because the period from the first day to 49 days after death is the soul wanders between this world and the next. In the 49 days service, we put the remains in our cemeteries. After the 49 days service, we have several periodical Buddhist services such as 1 year service, 3 years service, 7 years service, 13 years service, 17 years service, 23 years service, 27 years service, 33 years service, and etc. We usually stop the Buddhist services after the 33 years service. But some people continue the services after the 33rd year.

broken image