 thumb|a graveyard in tokyo a japanese funeral (è¬å sÅgi or è¬å¼ sÅshiki) includes a wake, the cremation of the deceased, a burial in a family grave, and a periodic memorial service. according to 2007 statistics, 99.81% of deceased japanese are cremated.cremation society of g.b. - international cremation statistics 2007 ==modern funerals== ===after death=== although japan has become a more secular society (see religion in japan), 91% of funerals are conducted as buddhist ceremonies. immediately after a death (or, in earlier days, just before the expected death), relatives moisten the dying or deceased person's lips with water, a practice known as . most japanese homes maintain buddhist altars, or , for use in buddhist ceremonies; and many also have shinto shrines, or . when a death occurs, the shrine is closed and covered with white paper to keep out the impure spirits of the dead, a custom called . a small table decorated with flowers, incense, and a candle is placed next to the deceased's bed. the relatives and authorities are informed, and a death certificate is issued. funeral arrangements typically are made by the eldest son and are begun by contacting a temple to schedule the event. some days are more auspicious than others, based on an old chinese six-day lunar cycle; in particular, the second day, called , is superstitiously understood to mean "pulling your friends along with you" (tomo = friends; hiku = pull, although the original significance was different) and is therefore considered a terrible day for a funeral but a good day for a wedding. the body is washed and the orifices are blocked with cotton or gauze. an "encoffining" ritual (called a nÅkan) is sometimes performed, in which professional  ritually dress and prepare the body and place it in the coffin (this is portrayed in the 2008 film departures). the ceremony is now rarely performed, and may be limited to rural areas where older traditions are maintained. whether or not the encoffining ceremony is performed, a deceased female is dressed in a white kimono, and a deceased male is dressed in a suit or a kimono. makeup may be applied. the body is put on dry ice in a casket. itemsâsuch as a white kimono, a pair of sandals, six coins for crossing the river of three crossings, and burnable items of which the deceased was fond (for example, cigarettes and candy) are placed in the casket, whic
Cremation Death_customs Death_in_Japan