The Changes in Post funeral Arrangements for Modern People: The Rise and Development of Sea Burial

In modern society, whether it’s friends, relatives, or couples, as long as they get along for a long time, everyone will more or less talk about how to handle their affairs. In ancient times, people generally chose earth burial as their ultimate destination. However, with the development of the times and changes in lifestyle habits, people have different views and choices on how to handle personal affairs. For example, in Japan, more and more people are choosing “sea burial”.

Sea burial experience activity: a way to bid farewell to the living

A special cruise event

Not long ago, Japan held a special cruise event. This cruise ship is not designed for people to board, eat, drink, or make brief stops and travel between cities. But rather, it is a sea burial experience event aimed at allowing participants to experience the ritual of scattering ashes into the sea. The focus of this activity is that participants can bid farewell to important people or imagine how they will be bid farewell when they pass away in the future.

White Powder Wrapped in Paper: Simulation of Sea Burial

During the event, participants poured white powder wrapped in paper into the sea.

As it is a simulation experience activity, these powders are not real human ashes, but simulations using salt powder.

After sprinkling the powder, participants will sprinkle the petals on the sea surface. For those who have personally experienced it, this actual activity is more vivid and profound than they imagine.

The Rise of Sea Burial: Why Do People Choose Sea Burial?

The demand for sea burials continues to rise

According to the operators of Japanese funeral parlors, the demand for sea burials has significantly increased since about two years ago, and more and more people are choosing to close cemeteries and switch to sea burials.

According to statistics from the Japan Sea Burial Association, the number of sea burials conducted last year reached 2600, an increase of 2.5 times in five years.

Economy and Convenience: Reasons for the Popularity of Sea Burial

The main reasons for the increasing number of people choosing sea burial are as follows: firstly, no one inherits the cemetery, and secondly, the cost and effort of maintaining the cemetery make many people feel inconvenient. Modern people are concerned about these factors, so choosing a simpler and more convenient sea burial is a trend.

Getting Close to Nature: The Spiritual Connotation of Sea Burial

In addition, sea burial allows the deceased to return to nature and blend with the sea. This approach is not only environmentally friendly, but also in line with modern people’s pursuit of a simple and natural lifestyle.

The handling of other matters after death: the combination of technology and tradition

High tech Bone Pagoda: A New Method of Worship

In modern Japan, fewer and fewer people are taking care of traditional cemeteries and instead choosing to close ancestral graves and use other methods to pay tribute to the deceased. For example, there is a high-tech bone grafting tower in Tokyo that can hold the ashes of 4500 families.

Worshipers only need to wait for 90 seconds at the window, and the machine will move the small altar containing ashes to the worship entrance. This method is somewhat like a coin operated vending machine, extremely convenient.

New burial methods: tree burial, sea burial, etc

According to a survey conducted in June this year, traditional earth burial has become increasingly rare among men and women aged 20 and above in Japan. Instead, new burial methods such as stupas, tree burials, and sea burials have been adopted. These methods not only save land resources, but also align more with modern environmental protection concepts.

Choice is just an attitude

Whether it’s sea burial, tree burial, or high-tech bone grafting towers, every new way represents people’s understanding of life and reverence for nature. No matter which method is chosen, the important thing is that the deceased can be respected and the living can find comfort and solace in their hearts. These new ways of handling funeral affairs also provide more choices and possibilities for modern society.

Through this diversified approach to handling funeral affairs, people can not only better face the reality of separation and death, but also find a more suitable and humane way to bid farewell to the deceased. I believe that in the future, more people will choose to embark on their final journey of life in the way they believe is best.