If Cats Disappeared From The World

Attitudes toward death in Japanese culture, as in most cultures, are greatly influenced by the country’s dominant religious beliefs and traditions. The two major religions in Japan are Shinto and Buddhism; religious pluralism—people embracing traditions from multiple religions simultaneously—is also a prominent practice. Even many people who consider themselves essentially secular often follow the rites and rituals of different faiths on different special occasions.

Shinto is the native folk religion of Japan, and is centered on ideas of cultivating a pure state of mind and self, and the worship of kami, or gods/spirits. Buddhism has been a major religion in Japan for over a millennium; it advocates release from attachment and suffering, karma, and following the teachings of the Buddha. Both Shinto and Buddhism teach that inanimate objects and humans are interconnected, and that a cautious balance must be kept between unhealthy attachment and wastefulness. Death is considered a source of impurity in Shinto, so Buddhist funeral traditions are more commonly followed by the general population. Buddhism teaches that death is a natural stage in the cycle of reincarnation.

Attitudes toward death in Japan are also shaped by secular cultural values and influential philosophies such as Confucianism. Typically, these emphasize the importance of the traditional family hierarchy, foregrounding the veneration of ancestors and respect for the dead. Although Christianity is a relatively niche religion in Japan, the popularity of Western media in Japan—much of which is significantly influenced by Christianity—means that elements of this religion and its beliefs surrounding death are at least familiar to many Japanese people.