IMS JAPANEmbalming
- IMS JAPAN
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- CSR: For society
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- Disaster support
SupportDisaster support
Embalming was performed on victims who required long-term preservation for identification after the 1995 Great Hanshin–Awaji Earthquake and the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake.
IMS JAPAN employs staff who hold reserve Self-Defense Force qualifications.
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Support
Embalming in disasters
At the request of national or local authorities, we dispatch embalmers in disasters to care for the deceased.
IMS JAPAN sent embalmers to affected areas during the 1995 Great Hanshin–Awaji Earthquake and the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake.
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The role of embalming in disasters
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Preserving the deceased · identificationIn large-scale disasters such as earthquakes, rescue and recovery can be difficult, making prompt examination and identification of remains challenging. When embalming is performed at the request of authorities, the deceased can be preserved longer while maintaining condition, improving the chances of identification.
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Preventing infectious diseaseDisasters may interrupt water and food supplies and worsen sanitation. Embalming not only slows decomposition but helps prevent secondary infection from the deceased. Depending on condition, proper care may be necessary to limit the spread of disease.
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Easing psychological impactDisaster embalming is not only about preservation; it also serves an important grief-care role. Trauma to the body or delay before discovery can deepen families’ sorrow when they see their loved one.
Through restoration and cosmetics, we try to bring appearance closer to how they were in life so families can say goodbye with greater peace of mind.
Deployments in disasters
During the 1995 Great Hanshin–Awaji Earthquake, IMS JAPAN dispatched embalmers to the field and performed embalming in Nishinomiya, Hyogo Prefecture. Embalming enabled long-term identification efforts, and every unidentified victim in that response was eventually identified.
When water and power are unavailable, specialized knowledge of what embalming can achieve under such conditions becomes critical.
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Embalming and reserve Self-Defense Force service
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IMS JAPAN in the community
Reserve Self-Defense Force personnel are civilians who serve as SDF members in emergencies such as disasters. IMS JAPAN includes embalmers who are also reservists—because they have seen firsthand how large a role embalming can play in those situations.
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