The difference between scattering and tree burial is the form of the remains. In scattering, the remains are ground into powder and then scattered in the mountains, while in tree burial, the remains are placed in an urn and buried in the ground near a tree. Both are known as natural burials, but the difference lies in whether the remains are truly returned to the natural cycle or whether a tree is used in place of a tombstone or grave marker to create a more natural form.

As the expression "return to the earth" has long been used, scattering is currently the only burial method in Japan that allows the remains to become part of the earth and turn to soil. In Europe and the United States, even "compost burials" have emerged, in which the body is flash-frozen, crushed into small pieces, and buried without cremation. However, natural burials, which allow the remains to become part of nature, are a major global trend. Even in Japan, interest in natural burials is growing due to reasons such as "no successors" and "reducing the cost of building a grave."

In scattering, some people may be reluctant to crush the remains into powder. In such cases, tree burial, which has no set rules regarding the form of the remains, may be preferable. However, in the case of scattering ashes, the ashes must be ground into powder to avoid legal restrictions. However, we'd like to point out that the resulting powder is extremely clean and beautiful. It can even create the illusion of becoming countless stars shining in a star-filled night sky.

The biggest difference between these two options seems to be whether or not you can visit the funeral home afterward. The most common method of scattering ashes is to scatter them at sea, which can lead to regret later if there is no place to visit. However, with forest scattering, even though there is no monument like a tombstone, you can still recognize that the ashes are buried in this area, so you won't be confused about where to turn and pray. Of course, with tree burial, the exact location can be pinpointed, so there's no problem.

The problem lies in the communal burial and interment several years later. "Common burial and interment" means "to worship together." This refers to a burial method in which the cremated remains are removed from the urn and placed with the remains of others. The remains are mixed together with those of many others and buried in the ground, allowing them to decompose over the course of many years.

In reality, in most tree burials, the remains are buried near the base of the tree for a few years, and then the urn is removed and enshrined together in a communal graveyard a few years later, purportedly for a perpetual memorial service. This can incur additional costs as a perpetual memorial service fee, and some have reported that they thought they could save money by not erecting a headstone, but ended up spending more than they expected. While communal graveyards are often chosen due to unavoidable circumstances or as a way to deal with succession issues, some have argued that if the remains will only rest at the base of a tree for a few years, wouldn't it have been better to have a communal graveyard from the start? In many cases, even after the transition to a communal graveyard, there are shared worship spaces available, making it possible to visit the graveyard. If you choose tree burial, it is a good idea to check before signing the contract whether joint memorial services will be held, as well as the number of times and the number of years.

"Forest scattering" is a natural burial where the remains are returned to nature. It is similar to "tree burial," which involves burial at the base of a tree, but is slightly different. While "tree burial" involves digging a hole in the ground and burying the remains in an urn, "forest scattering" involves grinding the remains into a fine powder beforehand and scattering them in the mountains. The remains are not buried underground, but rather scattered over the ground like the "Grandpa Who Made Flowers Bloom." In the wild, grass grows and bare ground is rarely found, so the white remains are not left in one place. The powdered remains gradually return to the soil as they are exposed to wind and rain. Furthermore, while in a typical "tree burial," the remains are exhumed and interred after a certain number of years, in the case of "forest scattering," the remains cannot be manually retrieved, so they rest there forever. Japan has a long tradition of "mountain worship," which views the entire mountain as a sacred object. ・・・

"Ocean scattering" is a funeral method that has become popular not only in Japan but around the world. Scattering ashes into rivers is not permitted in Japan, so this method seems to be gaining popularity. It is particularly popular as a way to say goodbye to a deceased loved one, and services such as chartering a motorboat or cruiser to scatter ashes offshore are popular. However, the drawbacks of this method include the fact that the ocean is easily affected by weather, which can suddenly result in a cancellation on the scheduled date, and the relatively high cost of chartering a boat. Our company, SANKOTSUYAMA, offers an "Ocean Scattering Plan," which uses our small boat, eliminating the additional cost of chartering a boat. All costs are included in the price. Furthermore, "ocean scattering" does not necessarily require the services of a specialized scattering company. Individuals are not prohibited from scattering powdered ashes into the sea. However, scattering ashes is prohibited near fishing ・・・