Real Nokanshi

Photo: IMDb

Have you ever watched Departures, a Japanese movie? Basic story is the below:

"Daigo Kobayashi is a devoted cellist in an orchestra that has just been dissolved and now finds himself without a job. Daigo decides to move back to his old hometown with his wife to look for work and start over. He answers a classified ad entitled "Departures" thinking it is an advertisement for a travel agency only to discover that the job is actually for a "Nokanshi" or "encoffineer," a funeral professional who prepares deceased bodies for burial and entry into the next life. While his wife and others despise the job, Daigo takes a certain pride in his work and begins to perfect the art of "Nokanshi," acting as a gentle gatekeeper between life and death, between the departed and the family of the departed. The film follows his profound and sometimes comical journey with death as he uncovers the wonder, joy and meaning of life and living."

Now Japan has faced with a tough situation since the huge earthquake and tsunami hit on March 11. Through the earthquake and tsunami, many people died. In that situation, there is a volunteer, Ms. Ruiko Sasahara who is a professional encoffineer helping the families of identified dead, sharing the sorrows, and making up the face of the dead with the families.

Photo: asahi.com

Until now, she has already taken care of over 300 bodies from a 10-day old baby to above 90 years old person, according to a radio program.