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The “Ruriden”, a cemetery that uses high powered LED lights to illuminate over 2,000 Buddha statues carved in crystals, is pictured in downtown Tokyo November 4, 2014. (Photo by Toru Hanai/Reuters)

The “Ruriden”, a cemetery that uses high powered LED lights to illuminate over 2,000 Buddha statues carved in crystals, is pictured in downtown Tokyo November 4, 2014. Funeral arrangements are normally left to those who have been left behind but the latest trend in Japan, which literally translates to “End of life” preparations, is for the ageing to prepare their own funerals and graves before they set off on their journey to the great beyond. With a population that is expected to shrink by nearly 30 million people over the next 50 years, the market for funerals, graves and anything related to the afterlife is still very much alive. (Photo by Toru Hanai/Reuters)




Yukiko Kimura (R) walks with her sister-in-law Kiyoko Matsuura (C) and Kiyoko's husband Yoshiharu Matwsuura after they prayed for Yukiko's late husband Mitsugi at the Ryogoku Ryoen, a multi-storey vault-style graveyard, in downtown Tokyo October 27, 2014. (Photo by Toru Hanai/Reuters)

Yukiko Kimura (R) walks with her sister-in-law Kiyoko Matsuura (C) and Kiyoko's husband Yoshiharu Matwsuura after they prayed for Yukiko's late husband Mitsugi at the Ryogoku Ryoen, a multi-storey vault-style graveyard, in downtown Tokyo October 27, 2014. (Photo by Toru Hanai/Reuters)




Men pray in front of a modern tomb that robotically retrieves the correct tombstone or urn based on which identity card is provided, at the Ryogoku Ryoen, a multi-storey vault-style graveyard, in downtown Tokyo October 27, 2014. (Photo by Toru Hanai/Reuters)

Men pray in front of a modern tomb that robotically retrieves the correct tombstone or urn based on which identity card is provided, at the Ryogoku Ryoen, a multi-storey vault-style graveyard, in downtown Tokyo October 27, 2014. (Photo by Toru Hanai/Reuters)




A staff member demonstrates how to use a modern tomb that robotically retrieves the correct tombstone or urn based on which identity card is provided, at Ryogoku Ryoen, a multi-storey vault-style graveyard, in downtown Tokyo October 27, 2014. (Photo by Toru Hanai/Reuters)

A staff member demonstrates how to use a modern tomb that robotically retrieves the correct tombstone or urn based on which identity card is provided, at Ryogoku Ryoen, a multi-storey vault-style graveyard, in downtown Tokyo October 27, 2014. (Photo by Toru Hanai/Reuters)




A woman prays at the “Ruriden”, a cemetery that uses high-powered LED lights to illuminate over 2,000 Buddha statues carved in crystals, in downtown Tokyo October 27, 2014. (Photo by Toru Hanai/Reuters)

A woman prays at the “Ruriden”, a cemetery that uses high-powered LED lights to illuminate over 2,000 Buddha statues carved in crystals, in downtown Tokyo October 27, 2014. (Photo by Toru Hanai/Reuters)




Buddha statues carved in crystals are pictured at the “Ruriden”, a cemetery that uses high-powered LED lights to illuminate over 2,000 Buddha statues, in downtown Tokyo October 27, 2014. (Photo by Toru Hanai/Reuters)

Buddha statues carved in crystals are pictured at the “Ruriden”, a cemetery that uses high-powered LED lights to illuminate over 2,000 Buddha statues, in downtown Tokyo October 27, 2014. (Photo by Toru Hanai/Reuters)




Buddha statues carved in crystals are pictured at the “Ruriden”, a cemetery that uses high-powered LED lights to illuminate over 2,000 Buddha statues, in downtown Tokyo October 27, 2014. (Photo by Toru Hanai/Reuters)

Buddha statues carved in crystals are pictured at the “Ruriden”, a cemetery that uses high-powered LED lights to illuminate over 2,000 Buddha statues, in downtown Tokyo October 27, 2014. (Photo by Toru Hanai/Reuters)




Junkoh Nagakura prays at the “Ruriden”, a cemetery that uses high-powered LED lights to illuminate over 2,000 Buddha statues carved in crystals, in downtown Tokyo October 27, 2014. (Photo by Toru Hanai/Reuters)

Junkoh Nagakura prays at the “Ruriden”, a cemetery that uses high-powered LED lights to illuminate over 2,000 Buddha statues carved in crystals, in downtown Tokyo October 27, 2014. (Photo by Toru Hanai/Reuters)




Junkoh Nagakura walks out from the “Ruriden”, a cemetery that uses high-powered LED lights to illuminate over 2,000 Buddha statues carved in crystals, in downtown Tokyo October 27, 2014. (Photo by Toru Hanai/Reuters)

Junkoh Nagakura walks out from the “Ruriden”, a cemetery that uses high-powered LED lights to illuminate over 2,000 Buddha statues carved in crystals, in downtown Tokyo October 27, 2014. (Photo by Toru Hanai/Reuters)




Yukiko Kimura (R) prays for her late husband Mitsugi with Mitsugi's sister Kiyoko Matsuura in front of a modern tomb that robotically retrieves the correct tombstone or urn based on which identity card is provided, at Ryogoku Ryoen, a multi-storey vault-style graveyard, in downtown Tokyo October 27, 2014. (Photo by Toru Hanai/Reuters)

Yukiko Kimura (R) prays for her late husband Mitsugi with Mitsugi's sister Kiyoko Matsuura in front of a modern tomb that robotically retrieves the correct tombstone or urn based on which identity card is provided, at Ryogoku Ryoen, a multi-storey vault-style graveyard, in downtown Tokyo October 27, 2014. (Photo by Toru Hanai/Reuters)




A woman places flowers on a grave outside Ryogoku Ryoen, a multi-storey vault-style graveyard equipped with modern tombs, where the correct tombstone or urn is robotically retrieved based on which identity card is provided, in downtown Tokyo October 27, 2014. (Photo by Toru Hanai/Reuters)

A woman places flowers on a grave outside Ryogoku Ryoen, a multi-storey vault-style graveyard equipped with modern tombs, where the correct tombstone or urn is robotically retrieved based on which identity card is provided, in downtown Tokyo October 27, 2014. (Photo by Toru Hanai/Reuters)




A visitor spins a prayer wheel in front of a Buddhist statue in the lobby of Ryogoku Ryoen, a multi-storey vault-style graveyard equipped with modern tombs that robotically retrieves the correct tombstone or urn based on which identity card is provided, in downtown Tokyo October 27, 2014. (Photo by Toru Hanai/Reuters)

A visitor spins a prayer wheel in front of a Buddhist statue in the lobby of Ryogoku Ryoen, a multi-storey vault-style graveyard equipped with modern tombs that robotically retrieves the correct tombstone or urn based on which identity card is provided, in downtown Tokyo October 27, 2014. (Photo by Toru Hanai/Reuters)




A woman smiles as she is shown her photographic portrait which will be used at her funeral during an end-of-life seminar held by Japan's largest retailer Aeon Co in Tokyo October 24, 2014. (Photo by Toru Hanai/Reuters)

A woman smiles as she is shown her photographic portrait which will be used at her funeral during an end-of-life seminar held by Japan's largest retailer Aeon Co in Tokyo October 24, 2014. (Photo by Toru Hanai/Reuters)




Kazuo Furumoto (L) reacts as he is shown his portrait that will be displayed at his funeral during an end-of-life seminar held by Japan's largest retailer Aeon Co in Tokyo October 24, 2014. (Photo by Toru Hanai/Reuters)

Kazuo Furumoto (L) reacts as he is shown his portrait that will be displayed at his funeral during an end-of-life seminar held by Japan's largest retailer Aeon Co in Tokyo October 24, 2014. (Photo by Toru Hanai/Reuters)




Natsumi Niki stands in a coffin before lying down in it to test it during an end-of-life seminar held by Japan's largest retailer Aeon Co in Tokyo October 24, 2014. (Photo by Toru Hanai/Reuters)

Natsumi Niki stands in a coffin before lying down in it to test it during an end-of-life seminar held by Japan's largest retailer Aeon Co in Tokyo October 24, 2014. (Photo by Toru Hanai/Reuters)




A staff member covers Natsumi Niki with a quilt as she lies in a coffin to test it during an end-of-life seminar held by Japan's largest retailer Aeon Co in Tokyo October 24, 2014. (Photo by Toru Hanai/Reuters)

A staff member covers Natsumi Niki with a quilt as she lies in a coffin to test it during an end-of-life seminar held by Japan's largest retailer Aeon Co in Tokyo October 24, 2014. (Photo by Toru Hanai/Reuters)




Natsumi Niki lies in a coffin to test it as a staff member prepares to place the lid on it during an end-of-life seminar held by Japan's largest retailer Aeon Co in Tokyo October 24, 2014. (Photo by Toru Hanai/Reuters)

Natsumi Niki lies in a coffin to test it as a staff member prepares to place the lid on it during an end-of-life seminar held by Japan's largest retailer Aeon Co in Tokyo October 24, 2014. (Photo by Toru Hanai/Reuters)




Natsumi Niki smiles as she lies in a coffin to test it during an end-of-life seminar held by Japan's largest retailer Aeon Co in Tokyo October 24, 2014. (Photo by Toru Hanai/Reuters)

Natsumi Niki smiles as she lies in a coffin to test it during an end-of-life seminar held by Japan's largest retailer Aeon Co in Tokyo October 24, 2014. (Photo by Toru Hanai/Reuters)




A staff member covers Kazuhiko Kitano with a quilt as he lies in a coffin to test it during an end-life seminar held by Japan's largest retailer Aeon Co in Tokyo October 24, 2014. (Photo by Toru Hanai/Reuters)

A staff member covers Kazuhiko Kitano with a quilt as he lies in a coffin to test it during an end-life seminar held by Japan's largest retailer Aeon Co in Tokyo October 24, 2014. (Photo by Toru Hanai/Reuters)




Kazuhiko Kitano smiles as he lies in a coffin during an end-of-life seminar held by Japan's largest retailer Aeon Co in Tokyo October 24, 2014. (Photo by Toru Hanai/Reuters)

Kazuhiko Kitano smiles as he lies in a coffin during an end-of-life seminar held by Japan's largest retailer Aeon Co in Tokyo October 24, 2014. (Photo by Toru Hanai/Reuters)




Yoshiya Yoshimura lies in a coffin to try it out during an end-of-life seminar held by Japan's largest retailer Aeon Co in Tokyo October 24, 2014. (Photo by Toru Hanai/Reuters)

Yoshiya Yoshimura lies in a coffin to try it out during an end-of-life seminar held by Japan's largest retailer Aeon Co in Tokyo October 24, 2014. (Photo by Toru Hanai/Reuters)




Yoshiya Yoshimura climbs out of a coffin after trying it out during an end-of-life seminar held by Japan's largest retailer Aeon Co in Tokyo October 24, 2014. (Photo by Toru Hanai/Reuters)

Yoshiya Yoshimura climbs out of a coffin after trying it out during an end-of-life seminar held by Japan's largest retailer Aeon Co in Tokyo October 24, 2014. (Photo by Toru Hanai/Reuters)




Noriaki Iwashima lies in a coffin to test it during an end-of-life seminar held by Japan's largest retailer Aeon Co in Tokyo October 24, 2014. (Photo by Toru Hanai/Reuters)

Noriaki Iwashima lies in a coffin to test it during an end-of-life seminar held by Japan's largest retailer Aeon Co in Tokyo October 24, 2014. (Photo by Toru Hanai/Reuters)




Noriaki Iwashima looks out of a coffin during an end-of-life seminar held by Japan's largest retailer Aeon Co in Tokyo October 24, 2014. (Photo by Toru Hanai/Reuters)

Noriaki Iwashima looks out of a coffin during an end-of-life seminar held by Japan's largest retailer Aeon Co in Tokyo October 24, 2014. (Photo by Toru Hanai/Reuters)




Noriaki Iwashima gestures as he lies in a coffin to try it out during an end-of-life seminar held by Japan's largest retailer Aeon Co in Tokyo October 24, 2014. (Photo by Toru Hanai/Reuters)

Noriaki Iwashima gestures as he lies in a coffin to try it out during an end-of-life seminar held by Japan's largest retailer Aeon Co in Tokyo October 24, 2014. (Photo by Toru Hanai/Reuters)
10 Nov 2014 13:48:00