Q: How do you pay your respects to the ancestors without burning down the house? A: Plug in a stick of electronic incense, of course! The fear of fire still runs strong in Japan, because within living memory, everyone still lived in houses built of wood and paper. Incense burning before the ancestral name tabletsContinueContinue reading “Pay your respects like you’re living in 2050”
Tag Archives: Japanese funeral
All Black, All The Time
The first time I explored a Japanese department store, I was excited to see that they had an entire department devoted to clothes in my favorite color: black! Then a Japanese friend explained: it was the mofuku department. Funeralwear. Yes, in the Land of Extreme Specialization, people maintain a whole set of clothes and accessories specifically designedContinueContinue reading “All Black, All The Time”
Only In Japan 