“Where do you go when you die?”
A place you must go to at least once in your life
A book for children exploring the unknown world of death.

Have you ever stepped on an ant at the playground? Swatted a mosquito or a fly? Have you ever cried watching someone die in a movie? You've probably died in a game and gotten a game over, right?

All these situations are related to death.
There is more death around us than we think.
And this death is an inseparable and important part of our lives.
This book takes us to death.
Precisely, in many ways, and above all, humorously.
It's still far away, and sometimes I want to avoid it, and somehow I'm afraid, but as I read the book, I find that it's not like that naturally.

There is a wealth of anthropological, cultural, and scientific information about death, including how people have treated the dead since ancient times, what they imagined would happen after death, what to prepare for when someone actually dies, how it feels, and how to cope with the loss.
Approaching death intellectually will help alleviate the vague fear of death and help us accept death as a part of life.
Let's go together into the secret room of the world of death, which is always by our side but has been treated as distant.

When we look around nature like this, we often see two opposing sides of one thing.
At first glance, those two things may seem incompatible, but in fact, they are often inseparable.
Just as there is no day without night, no summer without winter, and no waking hours without sleeping hours,
Birth and death cannot be divided into two either.
Perhaps the reason life between birth and death is so unique and special is because death serves as its boundary.

--- From "The Beginning and the End"

Everyone has a different way of saying their final goodbyes.
It's like a scene of parting at a train station.
Some people think it's cool to ride a train and say goodbye to lots of friends on the train platform.
Let's all hug each other and reminisce about the times we spent together.
And when you get on the train, everyone feels both sadness and gratitude at the same time.
On the other hand, there are people who like to go to the platform alone and quietly.
I think it's better to say a brief goodbye to these people in advance.
And when the train departs, I am content to leave alone without looking back.

--- From "Saying Final Goodbyes"

Q: Should we talk to children about death?
A: I think we need to talk about death and dying just as we do about any other topic or thing.
It's better to speak up without fear.
Children are all well aware that death exists.
It is not at all strange to children that people live and die.
But when I'm with my children, I want to focus on life rather than death.
With all the strength and joy that has been given to us.

--- From "Talking About Death: The Story of the Knife (Palliative Medicine Specialist)"

Q: What do children do at funerals?
A: Children are usually in the front row.
And it's when the coffin goes down into the pit that it gets the most interesting.
Suddenly, from somewhere, a child's voice is heard saying, "Wow! It's really deep!"
Then the children themselves pick up shovels and dig up the dirt or pick up flowers and throw them on the grave.
And then most of them say, 'I did something too.
I proudly walk out of the grave with the feeling that 'I was helpful too.'

--- From "Talking About Death: The Story of Barbara and Julia (Funeral Director)"

Grief is accompanied by tears, sobs, and whimpers.
Sometimes I feel so hopeless that I can't believe life will ever get better.
There are times when we all have to cry together because everyone around us is in despair.
Tears are easily contagious.
But crying like this has a very good effect.
So feel free to cry.

--- From "The Emotion Called Sadness"

Q: Is there a difference in grief between adults and children?
A: I think so.
If an adult's grief is like diving into a large, deep lake and not coming out for a long time, a child's grief is like jumping into a puddle.
So, the moment I jump in, I feel the sadness very intensely.
But you'll soon get out of the puddle again.

--- From "Talking About Death: Anna's Story (Psychological Counselor)"