Pet Funerals Surge in Popularity in Japan: An Unprecedented Trend

Nowadays, Japanese people have an array of choices when they want to hold a funeral for, or alongside, their pets — whether those pets are dogs, cats, or even insects.

The demand for joint burials with pets has increased in recent years, even though religion forbids it. A trailblazing firm in Tokyo has been offering "pet-inclusive" burial sites since 2003.

Memorial Art Ohnoya Inc. provides these pet graves across seven different cemeteries in Japan and permits the remains of pets to be buried even if they pass away before their owners do. Since launching its pet services, the company has entered into approximately 1,500 contracts.

When his father passed away, a man started searching for the family gravesite and mentioned that he promptly signed up for the service once he discovered it because his family couldn’t bear the thought of being separated from their dog, even beyond death.

Requests from individuals wishing to lay their irreplaceable pets to rest are accommodated by us," stated Yasunari Hakozaki of Ohnoya. "Additionally, some burial sites offer basins for visitors bringing their pets; this allows the pets to clean their paws upon arrival at the gravesite.

Fuga manages the gravestone company "Ishi no Miyabi" and provides shared burial sites for both individuals and their pets in the cities of Kobe and Akashi within Hyogo Prefecture. They permit tombstones to be customized according to the preferences of the pet owners.

An illustration showcased two cats positioned atop a round gravestone. These images were then reproduced onto a ceramic panel, making them more resistant to deterioration from outdoor elements.

During the Ai Pet Ceremony at Amagasaki in Hyogo, individuals may bring their pet beetles and other insects either in person or through postal service for burial. This establishment conducts monthly memorial ceremonies and emphasizes that these endings can serve as educational moments for children to understand death.