Monster Heatwave Spurs 'Virtual Grave Visits'
Proxy Services and Smartphones Redefine Traditions
The record-breaking heatwave sweeping Japan is even transforming traditional grave-visiting customs. Local media report a sharp increase in people seeking "grave visiting proxy services" to avoid the extreme heat. This trend is further fueled by the growing number of elderly households who find it difficult to visit graves in person, making such services a new alternative.
Monster Heatwave Leads to 'Virtual Grave Visits'
According to recent reports from Japan's public broadcaster NHK and Asahi News, the demand for "grave visiting proxy services" is rapidly increasing. Photo by TV Asahi
According to recent reports from Japan's public broadcaster NHK and Asahi News, demand for "grave visiting proxy services" is rapidly increasing. A proxy service provider located in Hachioji, Tokyo, received nearly twice as many requests for grave visits this summer compared to last year, surpassing 60 cases.
On August 13, during the Obon holiday period, a unique scene unfolded at a proxy service site. An employee, responding to a request from a woman in her 60s living in Nikko, Tochigi Prefecture, started a video call and began cleaning the grave. As the employee pulled weeds and wiped the tombstone, the client watched the process live and pressed her hands together in prayer toward her smartphone screen.
The client said, "My parents are also elderly, and with the recent heat, I thought it would be impossible to go in person, so I asked a proxy service for the first time. At first, I was hesitant to ask someone else, but I am grateful for the care they showed."
Climate Change and Aging Population... A New Service Industry on the Rise
According to recent reports from Japan's public broadcaster NHK and Asahi News, the demand for "grave visiting proxy services" is rapidly increasing. NHK
Grave visiting proxy services are now a nationwide phenomenon. According to NHK, major cleaning service companies handling grave visits across Japan have seen a 15-20% increase in requests compared to five years ago. Obara, the head of the Hachioji proxy service provider, said, "When temperatures rise, inquiries also increase, reaching 1.5 to 2 times last year's numbers. Many people cannot come from far away due to the heat." He added, "Services that allow people to see graves in real time, even just a little, through a screen will continue to be necessary in the future."
Experts analyze that these changes are the result of both climate change and an aging population. As heatwaves become a regular occurrence, traditional grave-visiting has become physically challenging, and with more elderly households unable to visit in person, proxy services are becoming a viable alternative. The related market is expected to become even more segmented in the future. There are predictions that expanded services incorporating technology could emerge, such as online memorial platforms, virtual reality (VR) grave visits, and even AI-based memorial services. This trend suggests the digital transformation of the entire funeral and memorial industry may accelerate.
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