Posthumous Divorce Rising in Japan

Shigo Rikon, commonly known as posthumous divorce, is on the rise in Japan. It's not what it sounds like. It doesn't refer to divorcing the deceased spouse, which is impossible.  It is actually an official process for cutting ties with the deceased spouse's family. This was a new one for me! 

When there is so much in-law animosity in Japanese families that it is still a problem after the death of the spouse, there is a way to sever ties. The technical, but less popular name is "notification of marital relationship termination" (inzoku kankei shuryo todoke), which just means official severing of ties with the family of the deceased spouse. The only real purpose the government approved official statement serves for most people is that their in-laws are unbearable and they are done with the family. The posthumous divorce can be obtained unilaterally and the in-laws will not receive any notice of it. The deceased spouse's family cannot sever ties this way, only the spouse can file for it. The process is easy, just requiring one to fill out forms at the city office. 

Form from Osaka

Posthumous divorce has no effect on the person's legal relationship with the deceased spouse. The still living spouse is still eligible for all inheritances, pensions, and insurance polices and can still keep the spouse's family name. In addition, they don't have to have their own remains in the spouse's family grave and they don't have to take care of the grave. 

According to the Japanese government, there are currently about 4,000 posthumous divorces each year, while there were less than 2,000 a year in the 1990's. 

It seems like this process has little real meaning, so why is it increasing? What do you think? Have you heard of something like this in any other country?