Key facts
- Companies are offering basic cremation and storage for as little as 15,000 yen.
- These services are aimed at individuals who die alone, known as 'kodokushi'.
- The number of lonely deaths is increasing in Japan.
- Some companies are exploiting legal loopholes to offer these services.
- Basic services include cremation and temporary storage of ashes.
Companies in Japan are capitalizing on a growing trend of "lonely deaths" by offering low-cost funeral services that exploit legal loopholes. These services, which can cost as little as 15,000 yen ($96), typically involve basic cremation and temporary storage of ashes for individuals who die alone and without family to arrange their burials. The rise in 'kodokushi', or lonely deaths, has created a market for these simplified and affordable options, bypassing traditional funeral rites and associated costs.