What do do when someone dies in Japan (need answer fast)

Factual Questions
1

When I google “what to do when someone dies in Japan” (and variations of it), I get guides about funeral etiquette/customs.

That’s not what I need.

I need to know what legal steps the child of a recently deceased Japanese citizen has to take. In the present case, a death certificate has been filed at city hall in the the city (in Japan) where the death happened. The deceased has no will and no real assets, just a bank account (in Japan) to be distributed among a few heirs. From what I’ve read, I think I understand the inheritance distribution and taxation rules, but (for example) I need to know what to do to make it all official, what sort of forms to fill out, where to file, what sort of deadlines exist, etc.

Can someone point me toward a comprehensive guide for this sort of thing?

2

My wife’s mother died last year in Japan. My advice would be that the bereaved person needs to consult a solicitor in Japan.

3

I’m sorry to hear the news. May her memory be a blessing.

This is a good list, unfortuanately it’s in Japanese, but google translate should give you the general idea.

It’s called “In Two Weeks, The First Thing To DO After a Parent Dies”

In PDF:

online:

The most important thing:

This concerns getting a permit for cremation. After the cremation is done, then a certification is issued.

THIS CERTIFICATION MUST BE KEPT WITH THE ASHES! especially if the ashes are carried anywhere by plane.

I’ll check for more information.

4

Thanks - I did do a Google translation, and yes, that looks pretty solid; I will pass it on.

Cremation is already done, and yep, there’s a certificate. I was concerned about transporting the ashes, so I looked around. The US has no issues regarding importation of cremains without a death certificate:

CBP: What is the process for bringing bodies in coffins/ashes in urns into the United States?

Although that CBP website does mention that some airlines may require a death/cremation certificate before they’ll let you bring them on the plane. I checked with a few US-based airlines, and even for the ones that don’t require documentation, they advise having it so you don’t run into problems at the security checkpoint, and they also recommend carrying the ashes in a non-metal container so that X-ray machines at security checkpoints can see inside.

I also checked with Japan Airlines and ANA, and they have similar recommendations:

JAL: Can I bring cremated remains on board?

JAL: Can I bring the remains onto the plane?

ANA: Can cremated remains (ashes) be carried into the cabin?

5

The only thing that will get you into trouble if not done is to neglect informing the national pension system that the person had passed. Continuing to collecting pensions for deceased people is a criminal offense, of course.

In the list, they have:
Informing the city office for the family registration for both where the home registration is and the registered address, if they are different.

Informing the national pension system and the national health insurance.

The list is comprehensive and includes all things such as having utilities shut off if the parent lived by themselves.

Also, that certificate is needed domestically to carry the ashed to the airport, so hold on to it.

My American friend had to help retreave his Japanesee boss’s remains from the States when the boss died. All in all, that much much more involved.

6

Yeah, I’d find a Japanese lawyer of some sort who specializes in Japanese probate law.

7

Here is the US Embassy in Tokyo’s site regarding “Death of a U.S. Citizen” in Japan. It has a lot of information, including what documentation must be created for anyone who dies in Japan.

8

Thanks, all, for your assistance. We have a pretty good handle on things for now.