Sou is a short form of soushiki, which means funeral services. In Japan, there are many different types of funeral services, among which, Buddhist funerals are most widely practiced. Like many Christian and other funerals, Buddhist funerals include a wake at which family, relatives and close friends mourn beside the coffin.

Mofuku

The mofuku (mourning wear) for women consists of a five crested black silk kimono without any woven pattern or design with a solid black obi. The obijime and sandals should be black. Obi-age can be either white or black. Other white apparel items are the split-toed socks (tabi) and full-length under kimono. Slightly less formal than this is the solid color kimono without patterns worn with a black obi, obi-age and obi-jime.

Many men wear Western clothes, either black mourning coats or regular black coats. If they choose to wear kimono, men also wear a five-crested silk kimono.