The other day I had a response to my world faith blog on Reincarnation and Mummification.  People are very interested in death rituals and beliefs, the unknown aspect of what happens after death.

Reincarnation and Mummification

My memory was jostled by the thought of this film I saw in a foreign film class I took in the local library in the near past.   The background story is that of a young musician who desperately needs a job.  He finds work in a most unlikely place, assisting as a Nokanshi or traditional Japanese mortician. This produces conflict in his family and friends due to the Japanese public’s shunning of those who are involved in death rituals.

http://https://youtu.be/Tw0CLB49tZI

For me, it was a touching and gentle story of the passing of a family member whose death preparation takes place in her home, surrounded by loved ones,  for her final journey.

The idea for this film was an India death ritual near the Ganges which I have seen in Varanasi. ” Departures” is not depressing, but shows the calming, beautiful, and dignified work in Japan after the departure of a loved one.

http://https://youtu.be/tB3XcmeOzY4

This is the only access I could find on Youtube.com.  I hope it works for those of you who might be interested.

I would love to hear your reaction to this idea and film about death in Japan.