Go Tokyo Your Experience
In modern Japan, cremation is undoubtedly the most common method of handling remains. However, a recent news report about a crematorium in Gifu City, Gifu Prefecture, has sparked widespread public discussion. This public crematorium has been accused of having its employees use the method of “poking the remains with a stick” during the cremation process for many years.
This incident has caused an uproar, leading to the management personnel of the crematorium being called to testify and answer questions in the council, while also sparking heated debates across Japan. However, the truth of the matter is not as simple as it sounds.
The incident was sparked by Gifu City Council member Nobuo Horita, a member of the Japanese Communist Party, who revealed to the public that crematorium staff sometimes had to use metal rods to adjust bodies during cremation, and even had to crush parts of the remains.
Such practices have led some people to believe that it is disrespectful to the deceased and harms their dignity, instantly igniting public opinion.
The person in charge of the crematorium stated that such operations are actually out of respect for the remains, ensuring that the body is completely and neatly cremated.
The remarks of the crematorium director pointed out: “If the remains are merely left to be cremated without adjustment, the burning effect will be very unsatisfactory.”
To this end, the writer Geta Kaho, who 曾 served as a cremation technician, also stepped forward to defend these operations, explaining that such actions are in consideration of the deceased and their families. Geta Kaho stated, “Although the issue in Gifu has been exposed, similar operational practices exist across the country, which does not strip the deceased of their dignity.”
During the cremation process, the purpose of using metal rods is to ensure that every part of the body is adequately and evenly cremated. This practice helps avoid color discrepancies in the ashes caused by uneven burning in certain areas. For those who provide cremation services, they hope that each cremated body can present a perfectly uniform ash color and state, which is a form of respect and responsibility towards the deceased and their families.
The writer Geta Kazuho created the manga “The Undertaker Who Ignites the Last Fire: The Daily Life of a Level One Cremator” based on his own experiences, depicting the complex emotions and technical challenges faced by cremation workers in a realistic manner.
In the manga, he recalls the complex feelings he experienced upon first arriving at the crematorium, as well as how he saw his seniors coordinating the bodies with metal rods, leading him to realize that the professional process of “cremation” can only achieve ideal results through continuous practice and skill refinement.
On the first day of working at the crematorium, Geta Huaxu was filled with enthusiasm.
However, upon entering the back of the cremation furnace, he was instantly overwhelmed by the atmosphere here
The senior peer looked through a small window to observe the situation of the body being cremated. The geta-wearing Huo was very curious about what the senior was doing with a long stick.
The senior stated that this 2-meter long stick is used to adjust the position of the body
Then the senior also had Hyōshō observe the cremation situation, and saw that the corpse in the furnace was covered in blood and even started to turn around…
Then he even looked at Hyōshō, making him mistakenly believe that the deceased had come back to life!
The process of cremation is like roasting fresh squid to perfection—it requires skill and patience. This metaphor is thought-provoking, revealing the technical complexities behind what seems like a simple cremation process.
Even when facing cold industrial equipment during countless silent days and nights, this work is always based on a profound consideration of humanity.
To this end, this widely misunderstood incident of “sticking a stick into a corpse” has made the public aware of many details and efforts behind cremation. This is not just about the technical operations of crematoriums; it also involves culture, tradition, and people’s respect for the deceased.
In this final step of cremation, the hard work of the staff and their attention to detail reflect the utmost respect for every deceased person. I believe this incident will also help people better understand and respect those who silently contribute behind the scenes, as well as the efforts they put into the final journey of every deceased individual.
