Key Facts
• On September 1, a project team meeting was held at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government.
• The team, led by the Constitutional Democratic Party, aims to reduce cremation fees.
• Tokyo’s 23 wards have 9 crematoriums, but only 2 are publicly operated.
• 6 of 7 private crematoriums are run by Tokyo Byosen, which has raised fees recently.
• Torii Mitsuru, head of the Tokyo Funeral Services Cooperative, highlighted limited public options.
• Residents face high costs due to reliance on private crematoriums.
• Torii warned of potential issues if private operators misuse their dominant position.
• He emphasized the need for more public crematoriums to address these challenges.
Summary
A project team led by the Constitutional Democratic Party convened on September 1 to address rising cremation fees in Tokyo’s 23 wards. Currently, only 2 of the 9 crematoriums in the area are publicly operated, leaving residents heavily reliant on private facilities, particularly those run by Tokyo Byosen, which has recently increased fees. Torii Mitsuru, head of the Tokyo Funeral Services Cooperative, stressed the lack of public options and the financial burden on residents. He also raised concerns about the unchecked power of private operators, urging the expansion of public crematoriums to ensure fair pricing and accessibility.
