Osaka elderly ensure no one faces a lonely farewell
In Osaka’s Nishinari Ward, an area long known as a home for day laborers, many elderly residents without family support are preparing their funerals in advance and making sure they can attend each other’s funerals. At one funeral in late May, about 45 people gathered at a community center to say goodbye to a fellow member of the Kamagasaki Send-off Association. Mourners placed white chrysanthemums on the coffin while sharing their grief.
The volunteer association was founded in February 2012 by 82-year-old Yoshihiro Sugimoto. Its purpose is to ensure that people without close relatives do not face a lonely death and can receive a dignified farewell. Buddhist priest Toyoko Nakahara, 65, became its head in April after learning about the group in 2018 and becoming interested in its mission. She said dying alone could happen to anyone and that she wanted to be involved in people’s lives and deaths.
The association mainly supports Nishinari residents receiving public assistance. Members pay 100 yen a month, and about 100 people are registered, including volunteers. Around 70 members have signed agreements allowing the association to handle their funerals and other affairs after their deaths. Members carry cards with their religious affiliation and contact information for Nakahara and other group members. Funeral costs are partly covered by public assistance, while supportive funeral homes provide altars and flowers free of charge.
Many members have connections to Airin, or Kamagasaki, where large numbers of people came from across Japan during the country’s rapid economic growth to find work. Many men were former day laborers, while some women lost husbands who had done such work. Eighty-two-year-old member Kazuyasu Ikeda, who is estranged from his family, has seen off about 50 members since joining the association. He said that dying alone is lonely and that being seen off by others helps preserve a person’s dignity.
The association also holds regular meetings, organizes grave visits, and gives members opportunities to share memories of those who have died. These connections are becoming more important as Nishinari’s population ages, with people aged 65 or older making up an estimated 36.1 percent of the ward’s population, the highest proportion in Osaka. As membership and funerals are expected to increase, volunteers also distribute a newsletter every two months to check on members’ well-being. However, Nakahara says the workload is heavy and hopes more members will become volunteers to help keep the group going.
Edited using generative AI tools.
Source: https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20260930/p2g/00m/0na/040000c#cxrecs_s |
