This episode is created using AI text to speech.
The number of annual deaths in 2024 surpassed 1.6 million. According to official statistics from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, the precise figure was 1,605,298. This number has risen consistently since the post-COVID-19 era, reaching the 1.6 million threshold eight years ahead of initial projections. It is worth noting that during the pandemic, a temporary decrease in mortality was observed, largely attributable to reduced public movement, which in turn lowered fatalities from traffic accidents and other external causes.
Since the resumption of broad social activities in 2022, however, the annual death toll has trended upward. This trajectory is expected to continue, with projections indicating that fatalities will again exceed 1.6 million this year. Nevertheless, observations from within the funeral sector suggest a lower perceived mortality rate in the Tokyo metropolitan area. This perception is substantiated by the relative ease of securing crematorium reservations and shorter waiting periods compared to the norm.
