社会｜葬儀のお布施と業者手数料の実態 / Society | The Reality of Funeral Offerings and Service Fees

Summary

Recently, it has come to light that 75% of donations are being deducted as fees by funeral homes, prompting monks to raise concerns.

As more funeral providers take on the role of arranging monks, the relationship between these monks and the families they serve has become increasingly strained. The issue at hand is that the donations made by the bereaved are heavily influenced by the profits of these providers. This situation is leading to a decline in temple revenue and is changing the nature of traditional funerals.

Dialogue

This dialogue is fictional and based on the article.

Chako: Hey Log, this news is really surprising! 75% of the offerings go to fees… what does that mean?
Log: Well, Chako, it means that a large portion of what the donors pay is going to the funeral home’s profits. That really undermines the original purpose, doesn’t it?
Navi: Offerings are meant to express gratitude to the monks, but the high fees charged by the companies can diminish that significance.
Chako: I see… So does that mean our perspective on funerals will change too?
Log: It’s possible. The funeral industry is evolving, so I think we need to seriously consider what funerals should look like moving forward.
Navi: Changes in the way funerals are conducted are likely to impact the relationship with traditional temples as well.

Admin’s Note

This article raises important issues regarding the realities of monetary offerings in funerals. In particular, there are concerns about the high fees charged by funeral service providers and the weakening relationship between them and the families they serve. Funerals are a significant ritual for honoring the deceased, and monetary offerings are a way to express gratitude. By understanding this issue, our perspectives on funerals may change. Moving forward, there will likely be a demand for greater transparency in funeral practices.