How to arrange a funeral for a family member of Vietnamese descent in Omiya | How to consult about prayers and customs of their home country.

When planning a funeral for a beloved family member from Vietnam in Omiya, some people worry, "Do we have to follow Japanese customs?" or "Will we be able to incorporate the prayers that were important to us in our home country?" Because you have to make many decisions in a short amount of time, it's important not to try to make all your wishes perfect at first, but rather to put into words, one by one, what is important to your family.

Even with a Vietnamese background, religious beliefs, family customs, and the way the deceased wished to be seen off will differ from person to person. Instead of making assumptions based on nationality (Buddhist, Catholic, or non-religious), it's important to understand what the deceased and their family wished for before consulting. At Seikatsu Funeral Service Center, we provide consultations while organizing the necessary points for prior confirmation regarding your wishes.

First, separate your thoughts into "things you definitely want to do" and "things you want to discuss."

During funeral arrangements, it can be difficult to express your wishes when you are emotionally distressed. Writing down your priorities on paper or in a memo on your smartphone can make the conversation easier. If you are not confident in your Japanese, even short sentences or single words are fine. Photos, items that the deceased cherished, and notes shared among family members can also be helpful clues for explaining your wishes.

• Things I definitely want to doExamples include: wanting to set aside time for prayer, wanting specific people to be present, or wanting to use music or photos that reflect the deceased's personality.
• Things I would like to do if possibleReasons for wanting to greet people in their native language, inform relatives who live far away, or arrange a meal together.
• Things that need to be confirmedThis includes requests to religious figures, actions permitted within the venue, items that can be brought in, the number of attendees, and whether photography or online monitoring is permitted.
• Regarding procedures in Japan: Matters to be confirmed regarding notification after death and cremation, etc.

Even if you haven't yet decided on your wishes, it's perfectly fine to express your desire to "say goodbye quietly with family" or "cherish the opportunity for prayer." Confirm with the person in charge what needs to be decided and by when, and set aside time to discuss it with your family.

Communicating the specifics of your prayers and rituals can bring a sense of reassurance.

If you wish to incorporate prayers or customs from your home country, it is important to be as specific as possible about what you want to do, not just the name of the custom. For example, you should confirm who will be praying, how long it will take, if there are any items you would like to use, and whether attendees will participate. Since venues and facilities have safety and management requirements, you need to check in advance whether it is possible to carry out your wishes as you wish.

Items to mention when seeking advice

1. The deceased's faith and the values that the family cherishes.
2. The content of the time can be as requested, such as prayer, chanting, singing, or a moment of silence.
3. Do you plan to ask religious figures, priests, or acquaintances for help?
4. Are there any photos, items, or offerings you would like to place around the altar?
5. Are there any items in the venue that might require confirmation, such as scents, open flames, or food and beverages?
6. Do you have any greetings you'd like to convey in Vietnamese, Japanese, or any other language?
7. When should you inform relatives who live overseas, and how should you contact them?

The content of religious ceremonies and the availability of religious officiants will vary depending on the desired timing, location, and venue conditions. Rather than simply saying "in the Vietnamese style," it's better to explain the necessary actions and discuss how to make them happen together to reduce misunderstandings. If there are differing opinions within the family, it's important to carefully discuss what is important and what can be substituted so that it becomes a meaningful time for everyone.

We will confirm the venues and cremation procedures around Omiya.

Even if you live in Omiya Ward, Urawa Ward, or Minuma Ward of Saitama City, the funeral venue and the cremation location may be different. Saitama City Hikari Hall is a funeral facility, while cremation takes place at Urawa Crematorium or Omiya Seien. You will need to check with the facility each time regarding usage conditions, availability, transportation methods, and attendance requirements.

Even when opting for a private family funeral, preparation isn't limited to simply keeping the number of attendees small. You need to consider, within reasonable limits, which relatives and friends to inform, who will be present during the prayer time, and who will accompany the deceased to the cremation. If there are relatives living overseas, you'll need to consider the time difference when contacting them and confirm their attendance and travel plans with the deceased or relevant parties.

The cremation date is not determined solely by the family's wishes; it is adjusted after confirming necessary procedures, facility availability, and venue usage conditions. If you have wishes such as wanting ample time for prayer or wanting to wait for contact from relatives, please let us know as soon as possible. Even if this is difficult, we can consider ways to respect your feelings, such as setting aside time for family to pray before or after the funeral.

Let's share any language-related anxieties as soon as possible.

Because it's such an important moment, you might worry about whether you've fully understood the explanation. Since phone calls may only be answered in Japanese, if you have difficulty communicating in Japanese, checking the multilingual consultation service via email is one option. For individual interpretation services, please check availability and details in advance.

When consulting, don't leave any unfamiliar terms unanswered. Feel free to ask questions such as, "What is this time for?", "What will change if I make this choice?", and "Can I discuss this with my family before giving my answer?". If there are any unclear points in Japanese documents or estimates, ask for explanations for each item. Rather than rushing into agreement, sharing what you understand with your family before making a decision will help reduce regrets.

To preserve the deceased's personality, please seek advice as soon as possible.

In unfamiliar Japanese funerals, it's easy to get caught up in trying to follow the proper procedures. However, the most important thing is to remember the deceased and say goodbye in a way that brings comfort to the family. Even if it's difficult to replicate all Vietnamese customs, you can still infuse your family's personality into things like prayers, photographs, family greetings, and quiet time to share memories.

When considering a funeral in Omiya or other parts of Saitama City, please feel free to express your hopes and anxieties, and organize what can be done and what needs to be confirmed. Seikatsu Funeral Service Center takes into account the need for prior confirmation regarding individual religious rituals, venue usage, transportation, streaming, interpretation, etc., and values consultations tailored to your family's situation. Even in the midst of deep grief, let's take our time, confirm each point one by one, and give form to our feelings for the deceased.