Japanese Death and Grief Rituals: A Cultural Comparison

Introduction

For this summary, I have selected Japanese culture, which has unique customs and beliefs regarding death and grief, which are different from my own Western culture.

The Place of Death in Japanese Culture

In Japan, death is considered a part of life and is deeply rooted in the country’s religious and philosophical beliefs, primarily Shintoism and Buddhism. Shintoism views death as impure, and as such, it is seldom discussed openly. However, the majority of funeral traditions are based on Buddhism. The rituals begin immediately after death, with the body being washed and dressed in white, symbolizing purity. The body is then placed with its head pointing to the North, imitating the death pose of Buddha.

Unlike in the West, where we typically bury our dead, cremation is the norm in Japan. After cremation, the family will use chopsticks to pick the bones out of the ashes to place them in a funerary urn, starting from the feet and ending at the head, symbolizing the reconstruction of the body in the afterlife (Hawkins, 2023). The urn is kept at home before being buried in a family grave.

Grieving in Japan is a communal process. The bereaved family will hold a wake, followed by a funeral and several post-funeral rites. Mourning is observed for a certain period, typically 49 days, during which family members abstain from certain activities. This period culminates in a memorial service, after which the family can return to their regular lives (Mathews et al., 2023).

Compared to my Western culture, where death is often seen as an end, in Japan, it is perceived as a transition to another state of existence. The communal nature of grief is also different, as we tend to grieve privately. Furthermore, the physical handling of remains after cremation in Japan may seem strange. Still, it shows a level of respect and intimacy that is different from the Western practice of a simple burial or scattering of ashes.

Conclusion

In conclusion, understanding the Japanese culture’s views on death and dying has provided me with a broader perspective on how cultural norms can shape our perceptions and handling of life’s inevitable end.

References

Hawkins, E. (2023). An atlas of afterlives: Discover Underworlds, Otherworlds and Heavenly Realms. Lost Atlases.

Mathews, G., Yang, Y., & Kwong, M. Y. (2023). Life after death today in the United States, Japan, and China. Taylor & Francis.

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StudyCorgi. (2025) 'Japanese Death and Grief Rituals: A Cultural Comparison'. 5 May.

1. StudyCorgi. "Japanese Death and Grief Rituals: A Cultural Comparison." May 5, 2025. https://studycorgi.com/japanese-death-and-grief-rituals-a-cultural-comparison/.


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StudyCorgi. "Japanese Death and Grief Rituals: A Cultural Comparison." May 5, 2025. https://studycorgi.com/japanese-death-and-grief-rituals-a-cultural-comparison/.

References

StudyCorgi. 2025. "Japanese Death and Grief Rituals: A Cultural Comparison." May 5, 2025. https://studycorgi.com/japanese-death-and-grief-rituals-a-cultural-comparison/.

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