How the Japanese view Death:

Dead ancestors and family members can basically be put into two categories. The "Generation Dead" and the "Juvenile Dead" the "Generation Dead" are husband and wives that have held the family's status during their living years. These ancestors represent the history of the family, and provide the living members of the family expectations and means of the household. The are given great amounts of respect and are often prayed to for guidance. The "Juvenile Generation" however are looked down upon and destined to be forgotten by the family.

There are also two religious beliefs about where the deceased go after death. There is the Shinto religion and the Buddhist religion. The Shinto religion believe that every human has a soul or spirit. After death, it is believed that the spirit inhabit another world. And not just one but many. These worlds can consist of Takamanohara, which is heaven, where the principle deities reside. Them there is Yami, which is the underworld as well as the realm of the Devine mother of Japan. And lastly Tokoyo, which is located somewhere past the sea. These worlds are not believed to be a paradise, but rather a world very similar to ours.