WHAT TO CONSULT ABOUT

★ The legal procedures for funerals.
★ A rough estimate of the fees for funeral services.
★ Other optional fees and expenses.
★ Arrangements concerning the wake, the funeral service, burial place or vault, etc.
★ Other details, for instance photograph of the deceased and so forth.
★ Other questions you may have;
　 ・How to go about buying a tomb or burialvault？
　 ・How to observe the Okinawan customs of memorial days for the dead？
　 ・How to go about contacting the priest？

YASURAI PLANNING is ready at all times for consultation(no fee required). We can help you with these and any other problems connected with a death in the family. Consult with us now so that you'll be ready whenever death comes unexpectedly.

PREPARATIONS FOR THE FUNERAL

● When death is imminent, the doctor will inform the family to contact family members, etc.
　 At this time, it is recommended that the family also contact the funeral director.
　 (24hours service)
● The care of the body is done as follows:(At the hospital, this will be done by nurses.)
　 ・Shaving, hair-dressing, simple facial make-up (for woman).
　 ・Wiping the body with warm water and antiseptic. Inserting cotton in the nose, the mouth,
　　 the ears, and the anus.
　 ・Making sure the eyes and the mouth are closed.It is customary to put on the person's
　　 favorite clothing.
● When the body is carried home, it is laid on a　matress covered with clean white sheets.
　 It is customary that the head be place toward either to the north or to the west. Other details
　 can be taken care of in consultation with the funeral　director. The family should feel free to
　 consult the director about any and all arrangements for the funeral.

AT THE WAKE

The priest should be called for the wake service, which is held in the evening. After the wake service, the family should consult with the priest and the funeral director about the time and place of the funeral, etc. Regarding food, etc. the custom of the family should be followed.

LEAVING FOR THE CREMATORY

When it is time to leave for the crematory, prayers are offered by the priest, and the family is given enough time for final farewells and offering of flowers. After that the coffin is closed and carried out by about six relatives to the hearse and then to the crematory. A few hours later,
the bereaved family goes to the crematory and gathers the ashes into a funeral urn. All then go to the place of the funeral service.

THE FUNERAL CEREMONY

PART ONE:The first part of the ceremony is the Catholic funeral Mass offered with the traditional prayers and hymns. These can be offered in the language desired by the bereaved family.
PART TWO:The second part is called the KOKUBETUSHIKI(告別式) in Japanese. The means "offering farewell incense". The service begins with a prayer by the priest. This is followed by the offering of incense by the family. Then telegrams of condolence are read. Finally, a representative of the family gives a short talk thanking all those who have come to the funeral. Then all present offer incense. This service takes about one hour. After the service the family leaves for the cemetery or burial vault. The priest will accompany the family.

NOTIFICATION OF DEATH

At the time of death the immediate family gathers to make preparations for the funeral, etc.
This will include notification of other members of the family, friends, place of work, etc. It is also customary to place obituary ads in the newspapers. The fee for this will differ according to the size of the ad. The funeral director will take care of the newspaper notification in consultation with the family.

　The total expenses will differ according to the needs of the family. While due respect is paid to the deceased, the family should at all
times avoid unnecessary expenses. YASURAI PLANNING is available for consultation.