TOKYO -- Services offering to scatter ashes at sea without the bereaved being present are gaining popularity in Japan, providing a more affordable alternative to traditional burials.

However, as current laws were designed with burial in mind, ash scatterings remain unregulated. Experts warn that using such services just to get rid of remains could violate legal statutes.

A cheaper alternative for the bereaved

"We initially focused on services where bereaved family members could be present on the ship, but we're seeing growing demand for affordable proxy scattering options," said Masatoshi Akaba, president of House Boat Club Co., headquartered in Tokyo's Koto Ward.

The company launched its oceanic ash scattering services in 2007, offering private charters and shared trips where families could bid farewell to their loved ones.

In recent years, demand for proxy services has soared. In 2019, the company conducted 154 proxy scatterings; by 2023, that number had climbed 2.3 times to 350 in just four years. Proxy scatterings accounted for 40% of the company's total ash-scattering services, up from 25% in 2019.

At 55,000 yen (about $366), proxy scatterings are significantly cheaper than private charters starting at 297,000 yen ($1,980) or shared trips with other families at 165,000 yen ($1,100). And while some clients opt for proxy services due to old age or physical disabilities, Akaba acknowledged that "many choose this option primarily to reduce costs."

In response to rising demand, House Boat Club expanded its service locations in October 2023 to 40 spots across 33 out of Japan's 47 prefectures -- more than double the number there was before.

Aeon Life Co., a funerary services subsidiary of Japanese retail giant Aeon Co., has also seen a notable increase in proxy scatterings, which grew 3.3 times between 2017 and 2023. Although Aeon Life offers a service where relatives can accompany the ashes, proxies accounted for about 80% of their sea burials in 2023.

The rising trend coincides with the increase in "tomb closures," where headstones are removed and graves vacated. Aeon Life charges 66,000 yen per set of ashes for proxy services and provides options for scattering multiple sets of remains from graves that have been closed. "Many customers are seeking economical ways to handle remains removed from these settled graves," said an Aeon Life representative.

Simplifying the process

How does a sea scattering work?

Under Aeon Life's basic plan, cremated remains are mailed to an affiliated business, where they are cleaned, crushed and placed in water-soluble bags. Employees then transport the remains to an offshore location chosen by the customer and scatter them at sea.

The ceremony is conducted once remains from seven individuals are ready or within three months of receipt. Afterward, the business sends a certificate with the location of the scattering and a commemorative album.

To stay competitive, Aeon Life launched a simplified plan in late October 2024, reducing supplemental services like memorial albums and floral tributes. This new option costs 44,000 yen (approx. $290).

The proxy sea scattering service is also sought after by individuals without spouses or children, who increasingly ask their relatives to use the service after their passing. "Tomb closures are our main business now," an Aeon Life representative said. "But we anticipate a growing need for 'lone-person' services in the coming years."

Legal concerns: Intent matters

Historically, scattering ashes had been avoided due to concerns it could be interpreted as abandoning human remains under the law. In 1991, a civic group advocating "funerary freedom" scattered ashes in the sea off Kanagawa Prefecture. At the time, it was reported that a Justice Ministry official stated that "the practice is not illegal as long as it is conducted moderately as part of a funeral rite," which helped normalize the practice.

Hajime Himonya, standing director of Nihon Soso Bunka Gakkai (the Japan funeral culture study group), cautioned that "scattering ashes may violate the Penal Code if it is done solely to dispose of remains." He added, "Businesses must carefully confirm the intent of both the deceased and their bereaved families."

(Japanese original by Ei Okada, Digital News Group)