In Japan, a health trend is going viral due to its unusual surroundings: meditation sessions held inside coffins. This experience aims to help people think about life by confronting the idea of death in a controlled and symbolic way.This practice is sometimes called “coffin lying,” and is a form of meditation in which participants lie inside a coffin for a short period of time, usually about 30 minutes. The idea began as a pilot by a funeral home in Chiba Prefecture and has since spread to other places, including Tokyo.One place that offers this experience is a meditation place in Tokyo called Meiso Kukan Kanoke-in. Visitors pay about 2,000 yen (about $13) for a session.
During the experience, participants lie in a casket designed for meditation while listening to soothing music, viewing soothing images projected onto the ceiling, or sitting in silence.Participants can choose between an open or closed casket. Coffins are often brightly colored and ornate, a deliberate design choice intended to make them less macabre than traditional funerary coffins.The concept was developed in part by coffin designer Mikako Fuse, who said the goal was to help people think about death differently.
According to Fuse, the experiment aims to show that death does not have to be viewed only with fear. She said meditation can help people realize the value of life.Fuse has also organized workshops where students lie inside coffins as part of guided meditation exercises. Some participants told the Japanese newspaper Mainichi that the experience allowed them to reflect on their lives and reduce anxiety.
Others said it helped them “reset” their fears and feel a stronger desire to live.This practice is partly inspired by ancient cultural ideas in Japan about the relationship between life and death. One concept often mentioned is koyo, a traditional memorial practice that reflects the fragility of life and honors the dead.This trend also emerged during a period when Japan faced growing mental health concerns, including rising suicide rates among youth.
Some organizers say the coffin meditation experience aims to encourage people to reconsider harmful thoughts and focus on the importance of life. The goal is to “experience death” in a safe environment, which can help people see life more clearly. The idea is to give participants a chance to pause, reflect and think about what matters most.At the same time, the experiment is not offered as a medical treatment. Operators say participants must be physically and mentally healthy and comfortable in indoor spaces before participating. Claustrophobia can be a big problem.