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Text: Little Fish
Editor|Little Fish
——【· Preface ·】——》
In Japan, a creepy industry is quietly emerging – and even the dead cannot "rest in peace." Have you ever heard of someone refining precious metals from ashes?
The operation behind this is not only incredible, but has even become a way to make money, and in just half a year, hundreds of millions of yen can be profited. What are the forces that drive this industry to grow? The bones of the dead turned out to be part of the capital game?
Behind these seemingly unbelievable things, there is a more complex chain of interests. How does this industry work, and why has it been able to rise so rapidly in such a short period of time?
Gold in ashes: a new source of revenue for local governments in Japan
In Japan, an unexpected phenomenon is quietly happening. More and more local governments are turning their attention to a special "gold mine" – the ashes of the deceased. This practice began in 2020, when the city of Hiroshima took the lead in launching this business.
They found that the cremated ashes contained a considerable amount of precious metals. These metals are mainly derived from medical devices such as metal dentures and artificial bones used by the deceased during his lifetime. Over time, this practice gradually attracted the attention of other cities.
In 2021, the cities of Kyoto and Kumamoto joined the ranks. In particular, Kyoto City processed about 39 tons of ashes between January and September 2023 alone, from which 35 kilograms of precious metals were extracted, with a total amount of more than 110 million yen. This windfall has undoubtedly brought some relief to local finances.
However, this practice has also sparked widespread controversy. Some see it as a desecration of the dignity of the deceased, while others see it as an efficient use of resources. In the face of skepticism, the Kyoto City government has taken an unusually tough attitude.
In October 2022, a Kyoto City government representative publicly stated that they had no intention of listening to citizens or convening an expert seminar to discuss the issue. This attitude has undoubtedly exacerbated public discontent.
The deep reasons behind the recovery of ashes
To understand why Japan's local governments made such controversial decisions, we must have a deep understanding of the serious challenges facing Japan society. Japan has one of the world's oldest populations, with more than 1.5 million people dying each year, and the number is rising.
Aging not only brings huge pressure to the society to provide for the elderly, but also leads to a shortage of resources in crematoriums and cemeteries. In this case, what to do with a large number of ashes becomes a tricky one. Traditionally, Japan would take some of the ashes of the deceased home for worship, but most of the remaining ashes were left in the crematorium.
Over time, the cost of storing these "leftover ashes" has increased, placing a heavy financial burden on local governments. Therefore, the practice of extracting precious metals from ashes can be seen as a helpless act to some extent.
It will not only ease the pressure on local finances, but also reduce the storage space for ashes. However, will this approach really solve the problem, or will it lead to more social contradictions? This is a question worth pondering.
Who owns the ashes?
Local governments in Japan are able to do so in large part because of loopholes in existing laws. According to Japan's crematorium management ordinance, which continued before World War II, the ashes remaining after cremation are considered the property of the crematorium manager and do not belong to the family of the deceased.
In most cases, crematoriums are managed by local governments, which gives the government a legal basis to dispose of the ashes. However, such provisions are clearly in conflict with the modern society's understanding of the rights and dignity of the individual.
It raises a series of ethical questions: Should the remains of the deceased be considered objects that can be disposed of at will? Should the family have the final right to dispose of the remains of the deceased? Should the government give more consideration to public sentiment and ethics when dealing with these sensitive issues?
The answers to these questions are not simple. If the law is amended to give more rights to family members, it may lead to an increase in the cost of ashes disposal, which in turn will increase the burden on society.
But if the status quo continues, it may lead to greater social controversy and dissatisfaction. This dilemma reflects the deep-seated contradictions that Japan society faces in the face of an aging population and economic pressures.
The potential risk of capital entering the funeral industry
One trend to watch in this controversy is the privatization of the funeral industry. In Tokyo, for example, while 97% of Japan's crematoriums are publicly owned, seven of Tokyo's nine crematoriums in 23 planning areas are privately owned.
Among them, Tokyo Hakuzen Co., Ltd. has 6 crematoriums. What's even more surprising is that in the summer of 2022, Tokyo Boshan underwent a "change of dynasty" and is now controlled by a Chinese entrepreneur named Luo Yiwen.
This change has raised more concerns: what will be the impact if private companies, especially foreign-owned companies, enter the funeral industry on a large scale? On the one hand, privatization is likely to lead to efficiency gains and service improvements.
But on the other hand, it can also lead to profit-oriented business practices, further intensifying the commercial use of the remains of the deceased. What's more, if these sensitive personal information and remains fall into the wrong hands, it can bring serious social problems and security risks.
Finding a balance between economics and ethics
Over time, more Japan cities are expected to join the practice. In July 2023, a Nikkei survey revealed that 48% of the nearly 90 cities interviewed had begun extracting precious metals from ashes. This trend seems to be expanding.
However, the future direction of this practice remains uncertain. As society's attention to this issue grows, public opposition is likely to grow stronger. At the same time, advances in technology may lead to more environmentally friendly and dignified ways of disposing of human remains, reducing reliance on this controversial practice.
Another possible way forward is that the government and all sectors of society may have a broader discussion on this issue and develop better laws and regulations to strike a balance between economic interests and ethics. This could include giving families more options or setting up a dedicated fund to use the proceeds from the ashes for the good cause, as a way to alleviate public resentment.
Whatever the future holds, this question reflects the complex challenges facing modern societies in the face of ageing populations, economic pressures, and ethics. It is not just a simple policy issue, but a deep-seated issue involving cultural traditions, the dignity of the individual and social values.
——[· Conclusion ·] ——"
The practice of local governments in Japan to extract precious metals from ashes reflects the deep contradictions facing modern society.
It always seems difficult to find the perfect balance between economic interests and ethics. This controversy reminds us that we cannot ignore the dignity of human nature and the moral bottom line of society while pursuing economic benefits.
Governments, businesses, and ordinary people need to think deeply: How can we uphold the dignity of everyone at the end of life? The answer to this question may help us to re-examine the value of life and the direction of social development.
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Information sources:
[1] "Should I sell "ashes and precious metals", there are differences in Japan, Global Network, 2024-09-24
[2] "Japan Crematoriums Collect Real Money from Ashes and Sell It, Kyoto Alone Can Make 200 Million a Year" United Kingdom Those Things2023-11-22
[3] "The U.S. Army Buys the Corpses of Medical Donors for Mine Explosion Tests", Chinanews.com, 2004-03-11
[4] "The proportion of elderly people in Japan will reach 35% How to deal with the challenges of aging?" 》Overseas Network2024-09-11