As Japan continues to face a declining birth rate and a graying population, several municipalities are tackling the problem of unclaimed bodies by setting new rules to more smoothly cope with the issue and launching initiatives to support single elderly people with their final arrangements.

In the city of Nagoya, it was discovered in February 2022 that an unclaimed body had been left at a funeral parlor without being cremated for more than a year.

According to the city, the officials in charge of the matter said they were “too busy with other administrative tasks.” They have since been reprimanded.