Tokyo, Oct. 26 (Jiji Press)–The Tokyo metropolitan government is considering building small public crematoriums, each with two to four cremation furnaces, in the Japanese capital’s 23 special wards to ensure stable cremation capacity. Building such crematoriums would require a review of existing regulations in the 23 wards, including an ordinance stipulating that crematoriums must be located at least 250 meters from residential buildings. An expert panel set up by the metropolitan government plans to compile an interim report in December. According to a metropolitan government estimate, the number of deaths in Tokyo is expected to surge in the future, with annual demand for cremations in Tokyo and municipalities in neighboring prefectures projected to peak at more than 210,000 in 2065. If annual cremation capacity remains at about 166,000 from 2030 onward, the capital is projected to face a shortfall of more than 47,000 cremations in 2065. Earlier this month, the metropolitan government presented its proposal for new small-scale crematoriums to an expert panel comprising ward mayors and academics. Shinjuku Ward Mayor Kenichi Yoshizumi said the proposal needed to be considered, and Kita Ward Mayor Kanako Yamada also expressed support for the idea, citing the difficulty of securing sites for larger facilities. Restrictions mandating a minimum distance between crematoriums and residential areas were first set during the Meiji era (1868-1912), when open-air cremation was common. The distance regulations remain in place in Tokyo even though crematoriums have since been equipped with systems to minimize smoke and odors. “It is all but impossible to find land in the densely populated 23 wards where a crematorium could be built at least 250 meters away from residential areas,” an official from one ward said. Other municipalities in Japan have moved to review similar restrictions, with the city of Moka in Tochigi Prefecture, eastern Japan, abolishing the 250-meter distance requirement in 2019. The move “was made in light of the modernization of cremation facilities,” a Moka official said. The city now assesses proposals on a case-by-case basis, taking into account factors such as potential public health concerns. In addition to distance restrictions, the Tokyo metropolitan government faces the challenge of finding suitable sites for crematoriums. Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike told a press conference Friday that “crematoriums are essential public infrastructure” and said she would support municipalities’ efforts to address the need for additional facilities. However, proposals to build crematoriums are likely to spur opposition from nearby residents. “It’s unclear whether residents would accept a crematorium being built in an area where none had previously existed,” one ward mayor said. There are currently nine crematoriums in the 23 wards, seven of which are privately operated. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]
