At least four people in Japan have died from inhaling carbon dioxide from dry ice used to preserve bodies inside coffins, prompting several agencies to issue a warning on Thursday (Sept 21): Don't stay too close to open caskets for too long. Those who died were said to have stood too close for too long beside coffins with the remains.
Even before a $12 million state funeral for theformer Prime Minister Shinzo Abe prompted a public outcry, the Japanese have long grumbled about funeral costs, the highest in the world.