While burial is not prohibited by law in Japan, it does require special permission. Article 5 of the "Cemeteries, Burials, etc. Act" states, "Permission from the mayor of the city, town, or village must be obtained as prescribed by Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare Ordinance." Therefore, to conduct a burial in Japan today, a "burial permit" must be obtained from the mayor of the city, town, or village. Currently, obtaining a burial permit appears to be somewhat of a hurdle.
Currently, 99.97% of deceased bodies in Japan are cremated. First, you must find a cemetery or mausoleum that allows burial. The reality is that very few cemeteries or mausoleums permit burial. Burial has a long history and was a very natural and everyday practice. However, modern cremation has also contributed to environmental pollution and destruction. While older crematoriums used coal, firewood, and heavy oil as fuel, more modern crematoriums seem to use city gas or liquefied petroleum gas. Regardless of the fuel used, burial is undoubtedly a more environmentally friendly method of burial than cremation.
With a global population growth resulting in a land shortage and a global shortage of graves, burial is no longer in line with the direction of modern society. Recently, there has been a strong tendency to view urbanization as a virtue. Natural things are perceived as unclean, and living environments are created using only artificial elements. It seems we are approaching the environments often depicted in near-future movies. While there is a tendency to loathe the dead and shun death, humans are undoubtedly products of nature, and everyone, without exception, will eventually die. It cannot be said that shunning the natural way of life is the evolution of humanity. Burial has long been a daily practice and mourning culture for the Japanese people. It is certainly the most natural method of burial, allowing for a return to the earth.
There is an organization called the "Burial Society." By becoming a member in advance, you can apparently bury yourself. This center accepts consultations from anyone wishing to arrange a burial, regardless of religion or race.
★By the way, the burial of non-human animals is not prohibited by law. However, there are very limited locations where burials are possible. This is because the Waste Disposal Act defines animal remains as waste, and their disposal must not occur in public places. Even on private property, burials in rivers, lakes, swamps, or their surrounding areas must be avoided to avoid violating Article 143, Paragraph 1 of the Penal Code, which prohibits water pollution. Burials have significant sanitary implications, such as odors and bacterial growth, and often cause problems with neighbors. Some areas even prohibit pet cemeteries by ordinance. Dogs and cats were also important members of the family, with whom we shared a deep bond. While I personally resent the legal treatment of pets as trash, the fact that they are not subject to the Cemetery and Burial Act means that there are many options. If you feel it is cruel to cremate your pet, please contact SANKOTSUYAMA.
Reference: Burial Association website
https://dosou.jp/ |
