Believe it or not, but the fact of death is still considered to be sensitive information in Japan. It is not easy to obtain someone’s records of death.
Obituaries are only for celebrities or high-profile individuals. You will never find an obituary of ordinary people in papers.
Below is the checklist for the death verification investigation for insurance companies in Japan.
| Sources | Certificate | Requirements | Mail Order | FYI |
| Family | ||||
| Neighbors | ||||
| Hospital | Medical Certificate of Death | Documents submitted to the insurance company | No | Could take 2 weeks |
| Medical Coroner’s Office | Autopsy Report | Documents submitted to the insurance company | No | When died outside hospital |
| Cremation Hall | Certificate of Permission of Cremation | No specific rule | Yes or No | Cremation hall, funeral Parlor and funeral service could be the same. |
| Funeral Parlor | ||||
| Funeral Service | Certificate of Funeral | Letter of authorization from the chief mourner | Yes | |
| Cemetery | Could be same as temple | |||
| Buddhist Temple | Could be same as semetary | |||
| City Hall | Juminhyo Residential Registry | Letter of authorization from the claimant who was in the same household, hiring attorney, or documents submitted to the insurance company | Yes | |
| City Hall | Koseki Family Registry | Letter of authorization from the claimant or hiring attorney | Yes | |
| City Hall | Certificate of Acceptance of Death | Letter of authorization from the claimant | Yes | |
| Paper | Obituary | Only for celebrities | ||
| Online Articles | Only for celebrities |
