☆ENGLISH ONLY☆コミュのFuneral

I attended a seven years-memorial of my mother-in-law
on last Sunday. She died about six years ago.
A priest came to the house of my brother-in-law.
A priest recited a sutra during about ten minutes,
and accepted some money.
A priest in this town is very busy and rich.

When a Japanese died, a funeral is usually performed
by the style of Buddhism. In this town some persons
perform a funeral at their houses, because
the cost of a funeral is cheaper than a hall for a funeral.

It is possible if their houses are wide,
but if their houses are narrow, a funeral is usually
performed at a hall for a funeral.
A mortician (undertaker) has a hall for a funeral.
A funeral at a hall is convenient, but the cost is
more expensive.

Ordinary Japanese become a Buddhist only at a funeral,
but we don't go to a temple in our daily life.
Buddhism is necessary only for a funeral in Japan,
and priests of Buddhism have the strong system
of supporting members of Buddhist temples
(so-called Danka system).

Anyway after a funeral, we should have several memorials.
Key numbers are three and seven. The first is 49 days
(7 times 7) after a funeral, and the next is three years
later, and seven years later. I don't know after that.
This is an annoying system.

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[1] mixiユーザー 03月09日 21:06

What are your options? Other than choosing another religion or a non-traditional ceremony. It's not possible to change an established religious system.

I suppose it is the decision of the family members as to what religious or non-traditional method of observance they want,

It is important to talk about what a person wants to have happen to them when they die. I know it is a very difficult subject to breach but having a family member die and not know their wishes seems a much more difficult situation to be in.

[2] mixiユーザー 03月09日 21:34

Hunter S. Thompson had his ashes put into a cannon and shot out in a fireworks display. Now that's a man's funeral.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4168266.stm

I may be biased but I'm also partial to Jewish funeral rites: body goes into the ground 48-72 hours after death, family eats a big meal afterward and wears black for a week. Gets it all out of the way