Tips on what to wear to a Japanese funeral

[@lindajustacrochetsister4659]

Great info , I always have a black dress and a white dress some Funerals white is preferable

[@MyRadicalKanjiWorld]

You can wear a white dress at a funeral in Japan? I never knew that! 😮😮😮

[@edgechan]

@@MyRadicalKanjiWorld IIRC you can, but it's most common the black since the one who wears white is... The deceased. But in China is quite common to wear white in funerals, specially because the deceased is usually dressed with their fav attire, while in Japan they're dressed with the famous Kyōkatabira.

[@Yotanou]

Thank you.

[@MyRadicalKanjiWorld]

You're welcome! I hope I did a decent enough job explaining.

[@Pixics]

Have you been to a funeral recently? I haven't been to one in a long time, although I tend to not be close to a lot of people so maybe that's why.

[@MyRadicalKanjiWorld]

Nope. Haven't been to one since my mother's funeral 10 years ago. With my in-laws, though, and with Japanese families in general, I've gotten this feeling of "so-and-so is in the hospital, is really old and really sick and things aren't looking good." That kind of conversation, I believe, leads to this kind of preparation where you always make sure you have Reifuku on hand.

[@DS_JP]

Wow they act quickly for funerals

[@MyRadicalKanjiWorld]

Yes, they act very quickly!

[@camkels6396]

So dress like the MIB, got it. Do I need the ray-ban's? lol btw I use an edc bag here in America and I haven't been criticized yet.

[@MyRadicalKanjiWorld]

Ironically, what I learned teaching grade school is that none of the staff or students wear sunglasses. That was all a part of "uniformity," from what I gathered. That was one area where I didn't care about fitting in. For months it's bright as hell outside and anytime I went out to help with events or weeding the grounds with the students, or even just playing sports outside, I always had my Ray-Bans. I wasn't going to sacrifice my eye health for any sense of fitting in. What I've learned through conversation is that Japanese people might see sunglasses as suspicious in the way we might think of people covering their faces with masks. Before the pandemic I always felt more comfortable around people who didn't cover their faces, even if those who did wear masks were doing so to prevent giving cold germs to others. Correct me if I'm wrong but I feel as Americans that trust and being able to see one's face are connected. I can't speak for all Japanese people, but I feel like they think the same way, but with eyes. I had to Google edc bag. Is that like a backpack? I wear a backpack everywhere I go when I'm not using the bag.

[@camkels6396]

@@MyRadicalKanjiWorld Interesting that Japanese see people with sunglasses that way. All it does is cover your eyes, so it doesn't hide your identity(compared to a mask.) If I go to Japan I plan to wear them as well. the EDC(everyday carry) bag is like a backpack but usually smaller like a purse. My bag is a small pack with a sling strap. I carry a multi tool( I don't think Japan allows those because of the knife in the handle) pens, pencils, basic first aid, etc. You every know when you might need these things. These bags can be very convenient.

[@MyRadicalKanjiWorld]

I totally agree. Having a bag like that is super handy. I've seen a lot of men wear the sling strap kind. It looks like a fanny pack (I guess?) but the pouch part rests between the shoulder blades / middle back area.

[@MyRadicalKanjiWorld]

Maybe I should walk back the glasses statement a little. I rarely saw them in schools. Sometimes I see them out in public and my wife told me it's usually when you have the sunglasses mask combo going that you look like a creepy stalker. A lot of my adult students started wearing contacts over the course of the pandemic because the mask would keep fogging up their glasses. It's the same for me if I try to look like a creepy stalker. So recently, for practical reasons I feel like I've been seeing sunglasses a lot less. I would still want to be fact checked on the suspicion thing.

[@lindajustacrochetsister4659]

I have some Buddhist friends

[@MyRadicalKanjiWorld]

I guess if there's a follow up question to that comment, it's are they practicing or non-practicing Buddhists? My wife is the latter. Lol.

[@lindajustacrochetsister4659]

@@MyRadicalKanjiWorld Definitely practicing