Foundational Research on the Funeral Ritual and Grave System and Related Public Support amidst an Individualizing Society

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K12964
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Cultural anthropology
• Research Institution: National Museum of Japanese History
• Principal Investigator: YAMADA Shinya 国立歴史民俗博物館, 大学共同利用機関等の部局等, 准教授 (90311133)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 小谷 みどり 身延山大学, 仏教学部, その他 (50633294)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: 無縁 / 行旅死亡 / 追悼 / 納骨堂 / 孤立死 / 生活保護 / 葬儀 / 墓

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This research aimed to understand how funeral rites are carried out when individuals without close relatives die, making clear the situation surrounding death in Japan’s increasingly individualized society. In our survey, we found that there are many regional municipalities having trouble handling the increase in such deceased individuals since entering the 2010s. Municipalities handle such individuals in diverse ways. While generally they cremate and inter them, some also, for example, carry out funerary rites as well as subsequent memorial services. we also found municipalities that have constructed, in cooperation with private organizations, mechanisms by which individuals can realize their wishes regarding life-extending measures, funerals, interment, and so on. In this way, mechanisms are gradually emerging that societally provide death-related support in accordance with individuals’ wishes.

Free Research Field

民俗学・文化人類学