For foreigners saying goodbye to family members in Saitama Shintoshin: The process and number of days leading up to the funeral.

When you lose a loved one in or around Saitama Shintoshin, dealing with Japanese language procedures and funeral arrangements amidst your grief can be a great burden. Many people worry about things like, "How many days until cremation?", "When should family members come to Japan?", and "Will we be able to convey our faith and wishes?"

The date of the funeral is determined by considering legally required notifications, the availability of the crematorium, the place of repose, when the family can gather, and whether or not a ceremony will be held. Therefore, it is not possible to set a fixed date. First, it is important not to rush to a conclusion, but to organize the necessary confirmations one by one.

Things to organize first: Contact information and information about the deceased.

The initial response will vary depending on where the death occurred, such as a hospital, police station, or home. After confirming death, it may be necessary to receive paperwork from a doctor and consider a place for the deceased to be laid to rest. If you find it difficult to make decisions on your own, sharing the situation with nearby relatives or trusted friends and designating a contact person can help reduce confusion.

When discussing funeral arrangements, summarizing the following points to the best of your knowledge will make subsequent discussions easier. It's okay if you don't know everything immediately.

• Basic information about the deceased, such as their name, date of birth, and nationality.
• Please tell us your current location and your wishes regarding the placement of the deceased.
• Location, language spoken, and time difference of relatives and friends you wish to contact.
• Do you wish to have a funeral in Japan, or would you prefer a cremation-based farewell?
• Things that are important to me in terms of religion, culture, food, clothing, etc.
• The possibility of family members overseas coming to Japan and their expected arrival dates.

Nationality alone does not determine religion or customs. If there are important wishes for your family, such as wanting to set aside time for prayer, playing specific music, or allowing attendees to wear whatever they like, please do not hesitate to let us know as soon as possible. You will need to check individually what can be done and what restrictions the facility may have.

What determines the number of days until the funeral?

In Japan, the date for the funeral is decided while coordinating procedures such as filing a death certificate and scheduling the cremation. Even when using facilities in the Omiya, Chuo, and Urawa wards of Saitama City, or around Saitama Shintoshin, the date is not determined solely by the desired date. Factors such as the availability of the crematorium and funeral hall, closing days, the status of the body's storage, and the availability of attendees all play a role.

Furthermore, there are legal regulations regarding the time frame between death and cremation. The actual date and time cannot be determined without checking the status of the notification and the crematorium reservation, so it cannot be said that it "can definitely be done the next day" or "can definitely be done within a few days." If you are waiting for family overseas, the schedule may change depending on travel documents, flights, and the circumstances of your workplace or school.

Main options when deciding on a schedule

There are various ways to say goodbye to a deceased person, including holding a wake and funeral/memorial service before cremation, as well as family funerals attended only by close relatives and friends, and funerals that focus solely on cremation without a formal ceremony. There is no single right or wrong way; what is important is to choose a method that suits the deceased's wishes, the feelings of the family, and the circumstances of those who can attend.

1. Prioritizing a day when relatives can gather in Japan, we will adjust the dates for the ceremony and cremation.
2. A small, early farewell ceremony will be held with only close family members present, followed by a separate opportunity to say goodbye at a later date.
3. After seeing off the family in Japan, we will mourn with our family overseas online or on another occasion.
4. Check with religious leaders and the community, and incorporate prayer time as much as possible.

When contacting relatives who live far away or overseas, it's best to separate the information into two parts: the fact of the death, the current situation, possible funeral dates, and any points that are still undecided. This will help minimize misunderstandings. If there are time differences, instead of trying to contact everyone at once, you can gather information through a representative within the family.

When considering a venue and cremation in Saitama City

In Saitama City, the funeral venue and the cremation location are not always the same. Saitama City Hikari Hall is a funeral facility, while cremations are held at Urawa Crematorium or Omiya Seien. You need to check with each facility regarding usage conditions, reservation status, available facilities, and rules regarding the content of the ceremony.

When considering transportation from Saitama Shintoshin, the burden on attendees is an important factor. If there are elderly people, young children, or people unfamiliar with Japanese transportation, it is reassuring to include arrangements for transportation from the venue to the crematorium, waiting times, and places for meals and rest during the meeting. If you would like to prepare information in multiple languages or share explanations with family members, letting us know your wishes early will make it easier to plan the preparations.

Things to discuss when choosing a family funeral

A family funeral is generally a type of funeral where the deceased is seen off primarily by family members and close friends. However, who is invited and when and how the news of the death is conveyed will vary from family to family. Since some people may later feel that they should have been informed, it is a good idea to decide in advance who will be contacted and who will respond.

• The range of people to invite and those to simply be notified.
• How to contact the deceased's workplace, school, friends, and communities.
• Policy on whether or not to accept condolence money or funeral flowers
• Hopes regarding photographs, videos, music, prayers, etc.
• Whether to have a meal or gathering after the cremation
• Handling of photos and videos shared with family overseas and considerations for privacy

The cost and details will vary depending on the scale of the ceremony, the venue, the period of repose, transportation, and necessary items. It is important to communicate your wishes, confirm what is included and what additional items may be required, and make a decision only after your family is satisfied.

To avoid harboring anxiety about language

When explanations are difficult in Japanese, don't leave unfamiliar words as they are. Instead, ask them to write them down, explain them in short sentences, or ask a trusted person to be present. When handing over personal information such as your passport, be sure to confirm why it is needed and who will be keeping it.

We offer multilingual consultations via email. For individual interpretation, religious ceremonies, transportation, and broadcasting services, we need to confirm availability and details in advance. Even if your wishes are not yet finalized, please let us know your feelings, such as "I have family overseas," "I'm worried about procedures in Japanese," or "I want to say goodbye as quietly as possible."

To see them off without rushing, while checking everything carefully

It's not always possible to be perfectly prepared when saying goodbye to a loved one. However, gradually putting into words how you want to say goodbye to the deceased and what is important to your family can help clarify what needs to be done. Since the schedule depends on the availability of the facility, it's best not to narrow down your options too much and instead organize your priorities and discuss them with your family to bring peace of mind.

When considering a funeral or family funeral in Saitama Shintoshin, don't view the time before cremation as simply waiting time. You can use it as time for your family to contact others and come to terms with your feelings for the deceased. Please clarify any uncertainties as they arise and proceed with saying goodbye in a way that is comfortable for your family.