For foreigners unable to attend a family funeral in Urawa: How to send condolences, flowers, and other sympathies from overseas.

Even if you receive news of a loved one's passing while overseas and want to go to Japan immediately, work, residency/travel procedures, travel time, and health issues may prevent you from attending the funeral. If you are unable to attend a family funeral in Urawa, distance doesn't necessarily mean you can't. First and foremost, it's important to calmly organize your communication methods and wishes so as not to burden your family in Japan.

If funeral arrangements are underway in areas such as Urawa Ward, Minami Ward, or Midori Ward in Saitama City, the date may be decided in a short period of time. Considering the time difference with other countries, when you receive notification, briefly explain your relationship to the deceased, your country of residence, and the time when you can be most easily contacted by the family or the funeral service provider. If you have difficulty speaking on the phone in Japanese, check if you can consult by email, as this will make it easier to communicate while reviewing the message.

Things I want to share in our initial contact

In times of grief and shock, it's easy to feel lost and unsure of what to ask. Don't try to decide everything at once; first, confirm the funeral arrangements and the contact information for sending your condolences. In the case of a private family funeral, the family may have carefully considered who will attend and how the ceremony will proceed. If you wish to send flowers or a eulogy, it's reassuring to confirm whether they will be accepted before making arrangements.

• Have the wake, funeral service, and cremation arrangements been finalized?
• Venue name, whether or not floral tributes will be accepted at the venue, and estimated deadline.
• Contact method for the chief mourner or family member in charge of arrangements
• An email address that is easy to contact from overseas, and the times when you can be contacted in Japan Standard Time.
• Can I leave eulogies, letters, photographs, etc.?
• Can I discuss my preferences regarding online participation and how records will be handled?

The date, time, and venue for cremation will vary depending on the facility and the schedule for the day. Saitama City Hikari Hall is a funeral facility, and cremation will take place at Urawa Crematorium or Omiya Seien. Please do not make assumptions about where and what will happen, but confirm with your family or the person in charge. You should also confirm in advance how to participate from overseas, whether individual interpretation is available, and whether or not the event will be streamed online.

When delivering a eulogy, even if it's short, use your own words.

A eulogy is a way of expressing gratitude and feelings for the deceased. It is not mandatory to read it aloud, but you can send a written message to family members at the funeral site and have them read it aloud if possible. Consider the emotional and physical burden on the family and the time of the ceremony, and ask in advance whether they can read it aloud, the deadline for sending the message, and how long it can be read.

If you are not confident in your Japanese, there is no need to force yourself to use difficult expressions. What is important is to write clearly about how you refer to the deceased, the events you remember, what you are grateful for, and your concern for the family. You can also consider writing in your own language and providing a Japanese translation. However, please respect the judgment of the person in charge and the family regarding the languages that can be used at the ceremony and whether or not readings are permitted.

Content that is easy to include in a eulogy

• How did you come to know the deceased, and what did you usually call them?
• One specific memory that remains in my heart.
• The kindness I received and the things I am grateful for
• Thoughts on not being able to say goodbye in person
• Quiet encouragement for the bereaved family

Regarding religious expressions and prayers, it's important to respect the wishes of the deceased and their family. You cannot determine the appropriate rituals or language based solely on nationality or place of origin. If you are unsure, you can offer words of gratitude and condolences that are not overly religious, and consult with the family if they have any specific requests.

When sending funeral flowers, it's important to consider both the "feelings you want to convey" and the "conditions for acceptance."

Floral tributes are one way to express farewells to the deceased. However, in family funerals, depending on the space around the altar, venue rules, and the family's preferences, floral tributes may be declined, or there may be restrictions on the type of flowers, names on the tags, and who to order them from. Before ordering directly from a florist overseas, be sure to check whether they will accept them.

1. Inform the chief mourner or the family member in charge of arrangements that you would like to send funeral flowers.
2. I will check if it will be accepted at the venue, and if there are any ordering procedures or deadlines.
3. We will discuss whether to write the names on the tag in Roman letters, Japanese, or as a group.
4. I will confirm with the service provider the payment methods and the conditions under which changes or cancellations can be made after placing an order.
5. I will share the arrangements with my family and take care not to rush them into contacting me for confirmation on the day of the event.

There may be times when sending flowers is difficult, or the family declines them. In such cases, a short letter, a message accompanying a photo of the deceased, or a follow-up message to express condolences at a later date are all ways to convey your feelings. More important than what you choose is to respect the family's wishes.

How to arrange communication for monitoring from a distance

On the day of the funeral, family members in Japan may have many things to deal with. When contacting them from a region with a time difference, simply adding phrases like "No reply is necessary" or "Please let me know when it's convenient for you" shows consideration for the recipient. Differentiating between urgent matters and matters that can wait until later will help reduce misunderstandings.

Some people may wish to be involved in the ceremony through video or audio. However, this may be difficult depending on the privacy of the participants, the communication environment of the venue, the progress of the ceremony, and the wishes of the family. Please consult with us as soon as possible as a wish, without assuming that it will be possible. Even if it is difficult, we may be able to consider other options, such as making a short phone call before or after the ceremony, or entrusting us with a eulogy.

There is no need to blame yourself for not being able to attend. It is meaningful to cherish the memory of the deceased, be considerate of the family, and express your feelings in a way that is comfortable for you.

Notes to prepare before consulting with Seikatsu Funeral Service Center

Seikatsu Funeral Service Center provides information via email regarding multilingual consultations. Telephone inquiries are accepted 24 hours a day in Japanese. If you are contacting us from overseas or would like to confirm something on behalf of a family member, please organize the information to the best of your ability to make the consultation easier. Availability and details of individual interpretation, religious ceremonies, transportation, delivery, and fees vary depending on the situation, so prior confirmation is necessary.

• Please provide the relationship and circumstances of the deceased to the extent necessary for the consultation, rather than the deceased's name.
• Have the funeral date and venue been decided?
• Requests from overseas (e.g., eulogies, floral tributes, contact methods)
• Please specify the language you would like to use and whether you are able to communicate in Japanese.
• Available dates and times and time difference
• Things your family has already decided or does not want

Being separated from your family in Urawa can be unsettling due to the lack of information. It's important to articulate your questions one by one, respecting your family's wishes and the circumstances of the funeral. For funerals in Urawa, Minami, and Midori wards of Saitama City, discussing how to convey the wishes of those unable to attend early on will provide peace of mind.