2004 Fiscal Year Final Research Report Summary
Looking at Changes in the Consciousness of Mourning and the Dead : General Research on Funerals and Graves
| Project/Area Number |
14201004
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| Research Category |
Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (A)
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| Allocation Type | Single-year Grants |
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| Section | 一般 |
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| Research Field |
Religious studies
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| Research Institution | Tohoku University |
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Principal Investigator |
SUZUKI Iwayumi Tohoku University, Graduate School of Arts and Letters, Professor, 大学院・文学研究科, 教授 (50154521)
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| Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha) |
KOUMOTO Mitugu Meiji University, School of Commerce, Professor, 商学部, 教授 (60101333)
KURIHARA Hiromu Nagoya Bunri University, School of Information Culture, Professor, 情報文化学部, 教授 (60319390)
MORI Kenji Ibaraki Krisutokyou University, College of Literature, Professor, 文学部, 教授 (90113282)
MAKIMURA Hisako Kyoto Women's University, Faculty for the Study of Contemporary Society, Professor, 現代社会学部, 教授 (30259551)
SHINTANI Takanori National Museum of Japanese History and Folklore, Folklife Department, Professor, 民俗研究部, 教授 (80259986)
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| Project Period (FY) |
2002 – 2004
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| Keywords | the Dead / mourning / grave / funeral / memorial service / the hill of Mabuni / the war dead / contemporary Japan |
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| Research Abstract |
The aim of this joint research was, while grasping the historical situation until now, to make clear the various changes seen in the mourning and the handling of the dead by present day Japanese, which having felt the effects of the social change in recent years faced a major turning point. Moreover, it was our purpose to compile those results as data that would show the direction of things to come. The social handling of Japan's dead came to be undertaken by the local community which traditionally retained such responsibilty. However, as moderninzation moves forward, the communal participation based on blood relationships and shared territorial bonds is continuing to weaken and with the relaxing of local communities ties, the handling of the dead is changing into a private affair.
On the other hand, from the administration of cemeteries and the like in the cities of the modern era, the trend for demanding that municipal governments be obligated to provide afterdeath resting places and the publicly honoring of the war dead is greatening. In that meaning, it is possible that in present day Japan the social concensus regarding the mourning and handling of the dead will suffer under a "critical situtation" of increasing ambiguity.
Therefore, in this joint research we have assembled members representing various fields of study who have demonstrated much accomplishment in the research of funeral and burial systems and have duly tasked them with clarifying the aforementioned problems. Accordingly, the two joint surveys listed below were conducted.
(1)Modern Man's Mourning of the Dead, National Attitude Survey
(2)A Survey of War Memorials at Okinawa Prefecture's Mabuni-no-Oka
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