Report】”It is impossible to remove the smell from the hair and body”… “Crematoriums” are off-limits to visitors, and the daily lives of those who burn death for the last time.

Crematoriums are the final resting place of the human body. Now, more than ever, the existence of crematoriums is attracting attention. A private company operating crematoriums in Tokyo’s 23 wards has raised its fees due to soaring fuel and labor costs, and there is now a debate over the appropriateness of the prices.

Not much is known about the actual conditions of crematoriums, partly because they strictly prohibit outsiders from entering and taking photographs. This time, with special permission, the editorial staff of this magazine went inside the crematorium to see firsthand the harsh conditions of the work and the state-of-the-art facilities.

Sneaking Behind the Furnace

Kirigaya Crematorium, a crematorium with an integrated ceremony hall, is located in Shinagawa Ward, Tokyo. The first thing that catches the eye upon entering the building are the neatly lined cremation furnaces. The crematorium has a total of 12 furnaces (third photo), each of which is used more than 10 times a day at times of high demand. The number of deaths, especially from December to January, is the highest of the year, due to the increase in the number of elderly people who collapse from influenza, colds, and heat shock in the bathrooms. It is a busy season for crematoriums.

The newest furnaces, which also have equipment to remove dioxin, cost more than 500 million yen per unit. They used to be fueled by firewood, coal, or heavy oil, but now they use gas. When we went around to the back of the furnaces, which are usually off-limits, we found an operation space large enough for a passenger car to pass through, and tools such as fireproof gloves, buckets, and poker sticks were neatly placed against the wall. Each furnace is equipped with an electronic panel that displays the fire temperature and oxygen concentration in real time. The inside of the furnace is covered with heat-resistant bricks, but an employee said, “We use the furnace every day at high temperatures, so it wears out quickly, and we have to change the bricks once every three months. We have to change the bricks every three months. It requires detailed maintenance.

One person in charge is in charge of several furnaces and constantly checks the condition of the bodies by peering through a small window (second photo). The temperature inside the furnaces rises to nearly 1,300 degrees Celsius, and sweat drips from the seven huge air conditioners installed in the ceiling, which are in full operation. Even so, the temperature is still better in winter, and in summer, the temperature is said to exceed 50 degrees Celsius.

The room is also filled with a distinctive “smell.

Even after changing clothes after work, it is difficult to get rid of the smell on one’s hair and body. Many people take a shower before leaving.

Although sanitation is thoroughly controlled, in addition to the disinfectant odor, there was an indescribable smell that lingered in my nose.

Although automatic control has progressed, the detailed adjustment of the fire power when burning a corpse is still done by hand. The coffin is burned first by moving the flame jets, and then the corpse is burned, but care must be taken as it becomes extremely hot in less than five minutes after ignition. If the fire temperature is too high, the bones will be shattered, and if it is too low, it will take too long, making the bereaved family members wait. The body size of the deceased must also be taken into consideration, and even veterans are very sensitive about this.

It is mentally demanding because you are handling the body directly, and adjusting the heat requires craftsmanship.

Part 2 [ Reporting on the Real Scene of a Multi-Death Society ] ” 90,000 yen per body” is a controversial cremation fee.

From the January 30/February 6, 2026 issue of “FRIDAY