1. Obtaining a Death Certificate or Autopsy Report
If the death occurred in a hospital, the doctor in charge will issue a Death Certificate. If the death occurred outside a hospital, such as at home, the police station will issue a Post-mortem Report. These documents are a third-party verification of the death, proving that it was not a crime such as murder. These are important documents, so please do not lose them. It's a good idea to keep copies, as they may be required for future procedures.

2. Submitting a Death Notification and Cremation Permit Application
Visit your city, ward, or village office with either the Death Certificate or Post-mortem Report. A city, ward, or village office manages the place of death, the deceased's permanent domicile, or the person's registered address. The notification must be submitted to the city, ward, or village office in either the place of death, the deceased's permanent domicile, or the land where the notification is registered. A personal seal (inkan) is required, so be sure to bring it with you.

At your city, town, or village office, fill out the "Death Notification" form provided and submit it at the counter. This counter handles family registers and resident registrations. There is no fee. The deadline for submission is within seven days of learning of the death. If the death occurred overseas, the deadline is within three months of learning of the death. Failure to submit within the deadline may result in a fine of up to 50,000 yen.

The information required to fill out the death notification is as follows:

Name, gender, and date of birth
Time and place of death
Address and registered domicile
Marital status
Occupational classification of the head of household
Address and registered domicile of the person submitting the notification
Signature and date of birth of the person submitting the notification
Place of cremation (or burial)
Relationship between the deceased and the person submitting the notification

"Cremation Permit Application Forms" are also available at your city, town, or village office. Fill out the necessary information and submit it at the counter. Some forms are also available for download from the city hall's website. The "Cremation Permit Application Form" requires the deceased's registered domicile, current address, crematorium, and other information. If all documents are in order, a "Cremation Permit (Burial Cremation Permit)" will be issued immediately. Please keep this document safe until the day of cremation. The "Cremation Permit Application Form" is a necessary document for cremation; without it, cremation cannot be performed at the crematorium.

3. Procedures for Suspending Pension Receipt
When a pension recipient dies, they lose their right to receive the pension, so they must submit a "Notification of the Death of a Beneficiary (Report)." Pensions are paid six times a year on the 15th of every even-numbered month. If the suspension procedure is delayed and the pension is already received, they will need to go through the repayment procedure. Therefore, if the deceased was a pension recipient, it is best to complete the suspension procedure at the pension office before the pension is paid to avoid any hassle.

To suspend pension benefits, submit a "Notification of the Death of a Pension Recipient" to the pension office. The procedure also requires the deceased person's pension certificate and documents proving the death (such as a copy of the family register or death certificate). The deadline for the procedure is within 14 days of the date of death for the National Pension Insurance and within 10 days for the Employees' Pension Insurance. In principle, those whose personal identification number (My Number) is registered with the Japan Pension Service can omit the "Notification of Death of Pension Beneficiary (Report)."

*Japan Pension Service website
https://www.nenkin.go.jp/section/soudan/index.html

4. Submitting a Notification of Loss of Health Insurance Eligibility
If the deceased was an employee, the employer must submit a "Notification of Loss of Health Insurance and Employees' Pension Insurance Eligibility" within five days. If the deceased was self-employed, a "Notification of Loss of National Health Insurance Eligibility" must be submitted to the city, town, or village office within 14 days. If the deceased was 75 years of age or older, a "Notification of Loss of Eligibility for Medical Care for the Elderly" must be submitted within 14 days.

5. Submitting a Notification of Loss of Nursing Care Insurance Eligibility
If the deceased was 65 years of age or older, or between 40 and 65 years of age and had been certified as requiring nursing care or support, the procedure for losing nursing care insurance eligibility is required. A Notification of Loss of Nursing Care Insurance Eligibility must be submitted to the city, ward, town, or village office where the deceased was registered as resident. The procedure for losing nursing care insurance eligibility must be completed at the city, ward, town, or village office. The deadline for submission is within 14 days of death.

6. Submitting a Notification of Change of Head of Household on Resident Registration
Normally, resident registration is cancelled when a death notification is submitted. However, if the deceased was the head of household, and a cohabitant becomes the new head of household, a "Notification of Change of Head of Household" on the resident registration must be submitted to the city, ward, town, or village office. The deadline is within 14 days of death, and delays will result in a fine of up to 50,000 yen.

7. Returning the Employment Insurance Eligibility Certificate
If the deceased was receiving employment insurance unemployment benefits, they must be returned. The Employment Insurance Eligibility Certificate must be returned to the Hello Work office within one month of death.

8. Claiming a National Pension Lump-Sum Death Benefit
When a deceased person enrolled in the National Pension System and dies without receiving either the Basic Old-Age Pension or the Basic Disability Pension, a National Pension Lump-Sum Death Benefit is paid to the surviving family members. The amount varies depending on the length of enrollment, but is approximately 120,000 to 320,000 yen. This benefit will not be paid unless you claim it, so if you remain silent, you will miss out. The benefit must be claimed within two years of the death. If the deadline has passed, you will not receive any benefits. Applications can be made at city/ward/town/village offices, pension offices, or pension centers. The following documents are required for application:

- Documents clarifying the deceased person's pension number
- A copy of the family register or legal inheritance information chart showing the relationship between the deceased and the applicant
- The deceased person's resident registration cancellation certificate
- Resident registration certificates for all members of the applicant's household
- Bank deposit passbook for transfers

9. Claiming Burial Expenses
If the deceased was an insured person under health insurance, you can claim "burial expenses" from your health insurance association or the Japan Health Insurance Association. You will receive 50,000 yen. The required documents are as follows: Please claim within two years of the death.

- Health Insurance Burial Fee Claim Form
- Health Insurance Card
- Death Certificate (copy acceptable)
- Funeral Expense Receipts, etc.

10. Funeral Expense Claim
If the deceased was enrolled in National Health Insurance or Long-Term Care Insurance, surviving family members will receive between ¥10,000 and ¥70,000 in "funeral expenses." The amount provided will vary depending on the family's circumstances and the city, ward, town, or village. You should claim "funeral expenses" from the city, ward, town, or village office where the deceased was registered within two years of the death. The required documents are as follows:

- The deceased's health insurance card
- Applicant's identification and seal
- Funeral expense receipts

11. High-Cost Medical Expense Refund Claim
If your parent or family member was hospitalized or otherwise incurred high medical expenses before their death, you can claim a refund for "high-cost medical expenses." Medical expenses can be reimbursed within two years of the death by filing an application with the health insurance association, the Japan Health Insurance Association, or the city, ward, town, or village office. A detailed medical expense statement is required.

12. Survivor's Pension Claim
If your spouse passes away, you may be eligible for a survivor's pension. You must apply for survivor's pension at the pension office within five years of the death. If you do not apply, survivor's pension will not be paid. There are two types of survivor's pension: the basic survivor's pension and the employee survivor's pension. Whether or not you receive a survivor's pension depends on your family structure and income. The basic survivor's pension is paid to the deceased's dependents (spouse and children). If the deceased had children under the age of 18, the basic survivor's pension is paid to their spouse and children. This pension is available annually until the child turns 18, so be sure to apply. For more information, contact the pension office. The required documents are as follows:・Pension book (for the deceased and the claimant)
・Family register
・Copies of resident registration cards for all members of the household
・Removed resident registration card for the deceased
・Documents verifying the claimant's income
・Documents verifying the child's income
・Copy of the death certificate
・Bankbook for bank transfer details
・Seal

13. Claiming Unpaid Pensions
Pensions are paid every two months. For example, "February and March payments are paid in April," meaning the two months up to the month before are paid. There are cases where a deceased pension recipient is left with unpaid pensions that should have been paid. Such "unpaid pensions" can be claimed within five years of the deceased's death. For more information, please contact the pension office.

"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 ・・・