We supported the production of a feature documentary series for CNA (Channel NewsAsia) titled “Good Death Innovators.”
The program explores evolving perspectives on death, grief, and remembrance across East Asia, covering stories from Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan.
For the Japan segment, Rio Mimaki served as fixer and production coordinator, supporting filming logistics, research, interviews, and local production.
The series was released in two episodes:
Episode 1
East Asia's New Grief Industry: Holograms, AI Avatars, VR Goodbyes | Good Death Innovators
Episode 2
Why People Practise Dying: East Asia's Living Funerals & Coffin Therapy | Good Death Innovators
Production in Japan
Preparation for the documentary began in mid-2025, with filming taking place across Japan in November and December.
Director Ray from Singapore collaborated with a Japanese production crew for approximately ten days of filming.
Rio Mimaki worked as fixer and coordinator, while cinematographer Masaki Kakuyama and sound recordist Teiji Kuroki handled production on location, alongside driver Shin.
Working with Ray was an inspiring experience. His vision for the documentary was always extremely clear — from interview direction to visual storytelling. It was the kind of collaboration that pushes everyone involved to grow professionally.
One particularly memorable moment came during filming, when Ray asked the camera team to “add more bokeh to the background.” It was amusing to discover that even in English-language productions, the Japanese word bokeh is widely used within the film industry.
Ending Center — Rethinking Burial and Community
One of our first filming locations was the Ending Center in Machida, Tokyo.
The organization is known as one of the pioneers of tree burial memorials in Japan, and for its unique “Hakatomo” community — a network where people who will eventually share the same grave build friendships while still alive.
We filmed gatherings among members and interviewed founder Haruyo Inoue and participant Kazuko Suzuki.
Their reflections on grief, memory, and companionship were deeply moving and became one of the emotional cores of the documentary.
Revibot — AI and Memory
We also filmed at Alpha Club Musashino in Saitama, where the company is exploring new ways of memorializing loved ones through AI technology.
The documentary featured Revibot, a project that recreates deceased family members using AI-generated avatars.
One particularly emotional interview involved parents whose child passed away as a teenager and was digitally recreated as an adult through AI technology.
The story raised powerful questions about grief, technology, and remembrance in modern society.
Hanauta Garden — Nature and New Memorial Styles
The team also traveled to Ito, Shizuoka, to film at Hanauta Garden, a beautiful memorial park specializing in tree burials.
One fascinating aspect of the location was its use of drone guidance technology to help visitors navigate the grounds and locate burial sites.
The peaceful atmosphere and innovative approach made the location visually unforgettable.
TalkMemorial.ai — Conversations Beyond Death
The final story we filmed in Japan focused on TalkMemorial.ai, a service that allows users to converse with AI recreations of deceased loved ones.
Through personal connections, we arranged for a participant to experience the service by speaking with an AI recreation of their late mother.
During the filming, the participant became emotional and moved to tears. It was an unforgettable reminder that technology, when handled carefully, can become deeply connected to memory and human emotion.
Looking Ahead
This project became an incredibly meaningful experience for everyone involved.
We are continuing to collaborate with Ray on future productions, with two new projects already in development.
We look forward to sharing more unique and thought-provoking stories from Japan in the near future.
