On a Night of Discussing the Dark Side of the Moon: Welcome to Death Cafe

In our daily lives, speaking of death might feel somewhat taboo.

However, just as the moon floating in the night sky is only a complete sphere because it possesses not only a shining face but also an unseen dark side, our lives, too, truly shine only when we gaze upon death.

It is not a heavy or somber place, but a warm space for dialogue where people gently discuss the boundaries between life and death while sharing sweets.

As the manager, I will guide you through that story.

☕️ Peering at the Dark Side of the Moon: What is a Death Cafe?

A Death Cafe is, as the name suggests, a cafe themed around death.

That said, it is not a permanent shop, but rather refers to an event where people gather at cafes, homes, or online to freely discuss death while drinking tea or coffee and eating sweets.

Our goal is to help people make the most of their finite lives by increasing awareness of death.

Just as the moon wanes and waxes again, gazing at death is a process of rediscovering the light of life—how to live in this very moment.

☕️ The Beginning of History: From Switzerland to the UK, and to the World

The roots of this mysterious gathering date back to 1999.

It began when Swiss sociologist Bernard Crettaz, after losing his beloved wife, felt the need for a place where people could naturally talk about death and held a Café Mortel (Death Cafe).

He wanted to break the heavy silence surrounding death.

The person who inherited that spirit and grew it into a global movement under the name "Death Cafe" is British social entrepreneur Jon Underwood.

He opened the first Death Cafe at his home in London in 2011 and published guidelines on his website so that anyone could host one.

Today, they are held in over 80 countries around the world, and circles of dialogue have expanded to over 20,000 events.

Although the founder, Jon, passed away suddenly in 2017, his vision continues to live on all over the world.

☕️ The 'Unspoken Rules' of the Cafe: A Place Where You Can Speak with Peace of Mind

Death Cafe has important rules, like a place where you can safely share your true feelings under the moonlight.

• No debates or judgments: We do not deny anyone's thoughts or lead them toward specific conclusions.

• Not counseling: It is distinct from professional sessions that have grief care as their direct purpose.

• Non-profit: It is provided as a non-commercial space so that anyone can participate easily.

• Sweets and drinks: This might be the most important part. Delicious cake and tea act as magic to soften topics that tend to be heavy and turn participants into 'true companions'.

☕️ Expansion in Japan: A Place Where a Unique 'Moon' Waxes Full

Activities began in Japan around 2012.

People from various backgrounds, such as monks, nurses, funeral directors, librarians, and caregivers, are hosting them.

What started as a gathering of friends in Japan has now spread across the country, including online.

Especially since the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, as death has come to feel closer, the number of online events has surged.

Transcending the taboo of it being 'bad luck,' talking about one's view of life and death also serves as a role for a community to regain the 'loose connections' that were being lost in modern Japanese society.

☕️ Who is this place for? To you who want to set down the weight in your heart just a little

It is not only people who have had special experiences who gather at Death Cafe.

—This place is open to everyone who carries such unspoken thoughts.

Deeper, more honest conversations and interactions between people sharing the same struggles are held exclusively for members from this point on.

For those feeling lonely, would you like to spend a warm night together?

☕️A word from the manager: "To talk about death is to talk about love."