Is religion in Japan in irreversible decline? japantoday.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from japantoday.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
While much of the recent decline was due to people opting for small-scale ceremonies to avoid the spread of COVID, many say the change is both overdue and unlikely to be fully reversed.
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.