If someone dies in Japan

Reporting the death

A doctor issues the death certificate (死亡診断書); it is registered at the municipal office, generally within 7 days.

The local death certificate

Japanese death certificate; translation needed for use abroad.

Bringing them home

Possible but long-haul and costly; an English-speaking funeral agent helps greatly.

A local funeral

Cremation is near-universal (~99%); burial of an un-cremated body is extremely rare and often impractical.

The embassy or consulate

Involve the embassy and an English-speaking agent for the language barrier.

True almost anywhere

• Check the travel/health insurance first — repatriation is expensive and is often covered.
• The death is registered where it happens; the local authority issues the death certificate.
• To use that certificate back home you usually need an official translation and an apostille/legalisation.
• The embassy or consulate can advise and liaise, but cannot pay funeral or repatriation costs.
• You generally choose between repatriating the body or ashes home, or a local burial/cremation.