Study about the Japanese family grave “ie haka” today - Through the research about Japanese family grave “ie haka” in big cities of Japan (Tokyo, Osaka)

This paper studied the form of the family grave “ie haka” in Japan. Burying cremated ashes into family grave “ie haka” is the second stage of cremation, being practiced more than 90% in Japan. Through inheriting the result of precedence researches and material research, fieldwork of author, making clear the background, the characteristics, the present status, the trend in future, etc. of the family grave “ie haka” is the purpose of this paper. Among that, especially, emphasizing the “traditional characteristic”, which has been still the debate point among the researchers when studying about family grave “ie haka”. Through it, it is possible to understand the current burial method, as well as the religious consciousness, family… of Japan. And today, in Japan, in the background, many influencing factors such as family structure, religious beliefs concerning death, the afterlife, etc. has been changing outstandingly, the current status, change… of burial culture, including the family grave system “ie haka” has been the noticeable topic. This is also a significant keyword to understand Japanese society and culture. But in fact, it almost hasn’t been studied in Vietnam. With this research, I hope to contribute to the study of such related fields of Japan, as mentioned above. And relating with Vietnam, in the context of urbanization and industrialization, many problems of burial cemeteries has occurred, and instead of it, cremation has been received gradually. Based on that, the noticeable change, such as the process of changing from handling burial bodies to cremated ashes, increasing the outside service in ancestor worship practice, etc. has been brought. Like that, through the study about the case of Japan, the similarities, experiences, and application in solving related issues in Vietnam are hoped to be clarified.