Acceptance and Development of Death Education in Japan: Alfons Deeken’s Death Education

In 1970s Japan, death was largely a taboo topic until Alfons Deeken, a German philosopher, priest, and professor, introduced death education and addressed grief. While not universally embraced, his work inspired movements that advanced hospices and encouraged bereavement sharing.This book explores how Deeken and three Japanese practitioners adopted and applied his approach, tracing the development of death education in Japan. It reflects on pivotal moments in the history of thanatology and grief studies and examines the current state of grief support and end-of-life care.Ideal for researchers in thanatology, grief, philosophy, sociology, end-of-life care, and Christianity, as well as practitioners and educators, the book offers insight into Japan's unique experience of confronting death. Readers will gain a deeper insight to how death education can transform personal, academic, and community approaches to life, loss, and grieving.

About the Author :
Yuko Yokoseki, PhD, MA, RN, is an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Nursing, Nagano University of Health and Medicine, Japan, specializing in community and home care nursing. She earned her Doctor of Health Sciences (DHSc) at Niigata University, Japan, and, informed by frontline practice, developed a sustained interest in end-of-life care. As Vice-Representative of the Ueda Association of Death Education and Grief Counseling, she organizes community grief-sharing groups and workshops on death education. She also serves as an officer in the regional branch of Japanese Association for Clinical Research on Death and Dying. Her publications include the Japanese edition of Alfons Deeken's Death Education (2015) and a 2023 study on bereavement support groups. For her contributions to community programming, she received a Letter of Appreciation and a Medal of Merit from the Japanese Red Cross Society. Outside of work, she enjoys visiting hot springs as well as shrines, temples, and churches.

Review :
'An excellent examination of Deeken's approach to 'Death and Life Education' […] the book concludes by examining three notable developments inspired by Deeken's philosophy: the integration of "Death and Life Education" into high school curricula, the growth of hospice care, and the rise of local citizen groups dedicated to these themes. Each of these case studies offers illuminating insights.'Rihito Kimura, PhD,Professor Emeritus of Bioethics, Waseda University, Tokyo, Japan