Getting funding for the project was difficult because of the taboos against death, and the crew had to approach several companies before Departures was approved by Toshiaki Nakazawa and Yasuhiro Mase.
Pendanaan untuk proyeknya sulit diperoleh karena berkenaan dengan hal tabu (mengenai kematian), dan kru harus berusaha mendekatkan diri dengan beberapa perusahaan sebelum Departures disetujui oleh Toshiaki Nakazawa dan Yasuhiro Mase.