Both stories revolve around Japanese funeral rituals and focus on how death can be seen as a dignified, reconciling and comforting part of life process. They have some very strong emotional moments and are full of delicate calmness and soothing settings.
Hirosue Ryoko has a support role in both titles.
Hirosue Ryoko has a support role in both titles.
A film about an unemployed and untalented cellist taking up a new job as a person who prepares body before putting into the coffin. After returning to hometown as a failure in the music world, he applies for a job with vague description. It turns out to be a job posting for "encoffiner", a person who performs rites and rituals before placing the body into the coffin. A 'tainted' job in the eyes of the society, but he eventually develops pride and purpose in this profession.