A day to talk about end-of-life planning with family

Today, and March 17th annually, is a Day to Talk About End‑of‑Life Planning with Family 家族と終活を話し合う日 (kazoku to shūkatsu o hanashiau hi). The day was created by Nichiryoku, a Tokyo‑based company involved in funerals, cemeteries, and end‑of‑life services. It is purposefully on the same day as "Higan no Iri" (see my previous post) and as such it falls twice a year - once for the spring "Higan no Iri", today, and once for the fall "higan no iri".

Moreover, they are not the only two anniversaries that are geared to creating awareness about planning for end of life. There is at least one other anniversary in the year with the same objective; a "day to think about the end of life", 終活を考える日, on October 1st annually. That one was created by a nursing home in Ehime Prefecture. 

The higan‑iri timing coincides with a period when families traditionally gather for grave visits and when the boundary between “this world” and “the next” is said to feel closest. This timing makes conversations about "shūkatsu", preparing for the final stage of life, more natural and less isolating. Rather than leaving these thoughts unspoken, the day encourages people to share their wishes with loved ones, easing emotional and practical burdens later.