Laws concerning cemeteries, burials, etc.

Japanese: 墓地，埋葬等に関する法律 - ぼちまいそうとうにかんするほうりつ

The disposal of human bodies, such as cremation and burial (interment), has a significant impact on public health on the one hand, and is also closely related to the religious feelings of the people. Therefore, this law (promulgated in 1948) imposes regulations from the two standpoints of maintaining and promoting public health and respecting the religious feelings of the people. The regulations under this law are divided into two categories: regulations on burial, cremation, and reburial, and regulations on cemeteries, ossuaries, and crematoriums. The former stipulates that burial and cremation can only be performed 24 hours after death, that burial and interment of cremated remains can only be performed in cemeteries, and cremation can only be performed in crematoriums, that burial, cremation, and reburial can only be performed with the permission of the mayor of the city, town, or village, and that if there is no one to perform the burial or cremation, the mayor of the city, town, or village must perform it.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

火葬，埋葬(土葬)など人の死体の処置は，一方で公衆衛生に重要な影響を与えると同時に，他方で国民の宗教感情と密接なかかわりあいをもっている。そこで，公衆衛生の維持増進および国民の宗教感情の尊重という二つの観点から，本法(1948公布)による規制が加えられている。本法による規制は，埋葬，火葬，改葬の規制と墓地，納骨堂，火葬場の規制の二つに分かれている。まず，前者については，埋葬，火葬は死後24時間経過後でなければ行えないこと，埋葬･焼骨の埋蔵は墓地で，火葬は火葬場でなければ行えないこと，埋葬，火葬，改葬は市町村長の許可がなければ行えないこと，埋葬，火葬を行う者がいない場合には市町村長がそれを行わなければならないこと，などが定められている。

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