Mar 6 • 20:15 UTC 🇫🇮 Finland Ilta-Sanomat

Japanese relax in coffins – this is what it's about

In Japan, a new trend has emerged where individuals meditate in coffins as a means of contemplating life and death.

In Japan, a novel meditation practice has gained traction, allowing individuals to find peace and reflect on mortality while lying in coffins. This concept has been covered by various international media, notably Vice, which reported on a salon in Tokyo where clients can meditate in coffins for 30-minute sessions, either in open or closed caskets. The practice encourages a deep contemplation of life and death, which resonates with traditional Japanese customs regarding memorial services and the fleeting nature of life.

The coffins used for meditation have been crafted to be aesthetically pleasing, aligning with contemporary Japanese tastes—some feature ornate lace and ribbons as if pulled right from a fashion magazine. This unique approach not only facilitates relaxation but also aims to provide a space for individuals to think constructively about their own mortality in a safe environment. The meditative act becomes a means of exploring one’s relationship with life and death, framed within Japan's cultural context of acknowledging and memorializing the dead.

In Chiba Prefecture, a funeral service company has also embraced this concept by creating a "coffin café", where the owner Kiyotaka Hirano hopes visitors will engage in reflective thought about death in a relaxed setting. This innovative melding of meditation and contemplation opens up discussions about mortality, societal attitudes towards death, and the evolving practices surrounding it in modern Japan, making it a significant cultural phenomenon worth observing.

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