Survey finds one in five older Japanese adults prefer natural burial

A new survey has found that one in five Japanese adults over the age of 60 wish for a natural burial where their remains return to the earth. The results highlight a significant shift in attitudes towards death and remembrance, moving away from traditional family graves.

The survey is conducted by at FOREST Co., Ltd., which polled 1,045 people across Japan. It revealed that the desire for a natural burial, such as in a forest or at sea, was the second most popular option after interment in a conventional family grave. The findings also showed that two-thirds of respondents, 66 per cent, do not consider a physical gravestone to be important. The company suggests these changes reflect evolving family structures and a declining birthrate, with many people hoping to avoid burdening future generations with the upkeep of a grave.

In response to these societal shifts, at FOREST has established the ‘Research Institute for Returning to the Forest’. The institute will deepen public understanding of natural burials and promote their value. The company has defined a natural burial as a method where remains can return to nature, no non-biodegradable items are left behind, the land is not exclusively occupied, and the environmental impact is low.

Despite the move away from traditional markers, the survey indicated that the act of remembrance remains important. Half of the respondents visit the graves of relatives or close friends at least once a year, with a quarter visiting three or more times annually. Furthermore, the survey found an overwhelming majority, 86 per cent, believe it is important to respect the final wishes of the deceased regarding their burial. This was true even for respondents who did not personally wish for a natural burial, showing a strong desire to honour the choices of their loved ones.

at FOREST operates a service called ‘RETURN TO NATURE’, which it describes as a ‘circular funeral’. The service offers burial in a regenerated forest in Nose, Osaka, without a traditional grave marker. A portion of the revenue is donated to forest conservation efforts.