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Japan is a Buddhist country that's especially focused on revering one's ancestors, since without those who came before you, you wouldn't be here, would you? There are many customs associated with graves and burial, one being that the dead are cremated and interred in the family gravestone, with everyone together inside. Buddhist altars (Butsudan) are altars that many families have in their homes. Every morning, my wife's mother rings a bell on our altar and prays for happiness and protection to the spirit of her mother, who passed away 20 years ago. In Japanese Buddhism, no one ever needs fear that they'll be forgotten and alone when they die, because of the many customs that keep the dead in the memories of those who remain. The word "Hotoke-sama" is the word for Buddha, but it also refers to the spirits of those who have gone on.

Below are examples of a "big sale" flyer for graves and Buddhist altars at a local shop. Of course, these things exist so there are shops that sell them, however it's a little odd to my American sensibilities to have a huge advertisement for these items. It goes to show that death is not such a dark or taboo topic in Japan as it might be in some other countries.