What are the most common funeral rituals followed in Setagaya Ward?

The most common funeral rituals followed in Setagaya Ward reflect the Buddhist traditions that dominate funeral practices in the area. These rituals are designed to ensure that the deceased’s soul can peacefully transition to the afterlife and that the family can properly honor their loved one.

The typical funeral process in Setagaya begins with a wake (known as tsuya), where family and close friends gather to offer their condolences, light incense, and engage in prayer 世田谷区 家族葬. Buddhist priests lead the wake, chanting sutras and offering prayers for the deceased. The wake is a time for reflection, where family members offer final goodbyes to the departed.

The funeral ceremony itself follows, and it usually takes place the day after the wake. The ceremony is typically held at a funeral hall, temple, or occasionally the family’s home. The ceremony involves more extensive chanting of Buddhist sutras, incense offerings, and prayers for the deceased’s peaceful passage. A key element of this ritual is the cremation process, where the deceased’s body is burned in a crematorium. After the cremation, family members participate in the ritual of bone-picking, a practice where the family uses chopsticks to gather the bones from the cremated remains and place them into an urn. This act is highly symbolic, representing the final bond between the deceased and their family.

The family also often conducts memorial services on anniversaries of the deceased’s death. These services are designed to continue the connection with the deceased and ensure that their soul is honored annually. In some cases, a memorial service may also occur at the 49th-day mark, marking the end of the soul’s transition into the afterlife.