Latest / New Books in Sociology
Hannah Gould et al., "Death and Funeral Practices in Japan" (Routledge, 2024)
Death and Funeral Practices in Japan (Routledge, 2024) is an essential introductory text an often overlooked element of cultural expression. The books offers a succinct history to the development of funeral practices over time, and describes a typical contemporary funeral in detail. Japanese funerals reflect the strength of continuing ancestor veneration (senzo kuyō), but face the challenge of high-density urbanisation and and reduction in family size which can lead to isolation at the time of death. The text explains new trends in funeral practices, including ‘tree burials’ and ‘eternal…
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