Japan to conduct inaugural survey on unidentified bodies

The welfare ministry in Japan is set to launch the country’s first fact-finding survey on municipalities’ responses to unclaimed bodies and remains, in light of the increasing number of elderly people living alone.

With elderly individuals living independently on the rise, municipalities often face challenges in locating relatives of those who have passed away alone. In some cases, family members may even refuse to claim the bodies of their deceased loved ones.

The ministry’s upcoming survey will involve consultations with municipalities and experts to pinpoint key issues and establish a set of model cases for handling unclaimed bodies.

According to the Cabinet Office’s 2023 white paper on the aging society, the percentage of elderly individuals living alone is projected to increase significantly by 2040, reaching 24.5% for women and 20.8% for men.

Current laws dictate that if no recipient can be found for a body or if it remains unclaimed, the municipality where the death occurred is responsible for cremating the body. As of October 2021, approximately 60,000 unclaimed remains were being stored by municipalities across Japan.

While some local governments advocate for standardized protocols for handling unclaimed bodies, the welfare ministry remains cautious due to regional and religious differences. The ministry’s survey aims to address these challenges and improve the overall response to unclaimed bodies in Japan.