edwin
Level 1
As citizens of Karakura we are subject to the ebb and flow of life. Whether its unexpected medical expenses hitting us, monthly rent payments, or perhaps oneself eventually falling in love. No matter the occasion this author can guarantee one thing, there's likely a cost associated with it. This just happens to be a part of the social contract we all share as a part of our daily lives, things require labor or upkeep to enjoy and in our case this requires a cost.
Living has a cost, but what about love? Death even? I am here to say yes! All of these normal parts of life we must accept, even to our own despise, have in some form a cost associated with them and in his article I hope to explore this a bit further. I am not here to judge or say what costs may be justified or not, that is up to you the reader to decide. But perhaps, certain costs or certain systems in place aren’t discussed openly enough for the public to be aware of.
| Living Expenses related to living is a very broad category, in the sense it would not be possible in a single report to cover all the complexities of modern life and the expenses that follow. Because of that, this report will focus merely on subjects more intriguing to the reader. Rent Unless you are homeless or living with someone else the reality is you, yes you! Will be paying rent here in Karakura as you would anywhere else in this world. The average rent set by complexes, note not the average paid, is roughly ¥75,000. A majority of standard apartments will be set at ¥50,000 with affordable options starting at ¥15,000 and penthouses ranging usually from ¥100,000 to ¥250,000.
| 
ⓘ Complex N & K near Plaza |
| Medical Expenses In Karakura citizens are privileged to have free healthcare available to them, meaning major procedures or care comes at no expense to the patient. However, this does come with some stipulations. That being, this does not cover any items or prescription purchased through the hospital pharmacy. The pharmacy sells an array of items, both prescription and non-prescription, with prices often ranging between ¥1,500 at the cheapest to ¥10,000 for the more expensive items. Many of the items included are medicines both prescription and non-prescription, however certain physical items are sold as well. Such as reading glasses at ¥4,000 or crutches for those with broken legs at ¥10,000 for one. | 
ⓘ Karakura Hospital front Entrance |
Lawsuits
Sadly, another natural part of life may be undue harm caused by a group or individual. In this case, an option you have open is the procedure of filing a lawsuit against the person or persons who have caused said harm. However, as always this comes with a cost. The documentation directly provided by town hall states:
In this regard, the cost is stated very evidently, that being ¥30,000 for the services of one of Karakura's finest lawyers. If you are perhaps on the opposite side of the bench and being the one sued, you may be victim to whatever costs the judge deems fair if not found in your favor.
Marriage
One could argue love is a natural part of life, and perhaps it should be categorized as a part of living instead. But who would argue that love itself does not perhaps transcend ones self in some fashion forming its own category? For the sake of convenience and order lets say it does. And what stands at the pinnacle of love? Well of course it's the act of marriage, to wed that special person who you hold closest to you. But boy is it pricey! Documentation provided directly from town hall states:
| The Act alone requires a small fee to be paid to the Karakura government, likely as a means to process the required paperwork. This starts the total off at ¥10,000. However, the more keen readers might have noticed the requirement for both parties to have an ID. While all Karakura citizens should have an ID, I highly recommend it at least should save you from potential fines from the Karakura Police Department, this does mean it will add to our total. A National Identification card is not free, it requires a processing fee of ¥5,000 to be paid to Townhall. At two IDs each that is an additional ¥10,000 bringing our total now up to ¥20,000. Technically, we could end it here. If you don’t wish for any other purchases to be made then congratulations! At the mere cost of ¥20,000 you and your beloved can now celebrate eternal matrimony. But, given many deem it one of the most important days of their lives, It's likely you might wish for a bit extra. And in this case we can begin to see how the prices really begin to add up! Given Karakura's diverse background many residents subscribe to a notion that a ring is an included element of marriage, evident by the fact many shops sell such products. For instance, Mai-Yune offers two rings variants available for sale, both priced at ¥60,000. Similarly, Yuna-Yuna offers a larger collection of 5 variants up for sale, however at a slight price increase. Yuna-Yuna’s rings range from ¥75,000 to ¥100,000. Besides these shops, couples can also find rings being sold at auction, albeit often at a markup by the seller. If price is a concern, one could technically purchase a ringpop from Karakura's sweetest store, Yeobo. However, this is a much more temporary item, perhaps not indicative of a long lasting marriage. | 
ⓘ Entrance to the Shōtengai |
While a ring holds significant value and many would deem it a necessity for their marriage, these other items may not pass the test of time. Meaning, they themselves are for the special day only, and are up to the personal discretion of the couple.
One such item being the Wedding Bouquet, a custom arrangement of flowers or greenery serving as a decorative accessory as well as holding symbolism. Thankfully, you can visit Karakura's own Kirei Hana for all your florist needs. There, they offer a variety of options in both cheap and more luxury price ranges. Starting off, we have the Lavander, Amaryllis, Versilia Rose, Sweet Pea, Rose, and Betty’s Bouquets, all priced between ¥5,000 and ¥8,000. On the more expensive side, Kirei Hana offers The “Bunny” Flower Bouquet priced at ¥45,000 and the Thistle Rose and Endearment Bundle bouquets at ¥30,000.
A secondary item, perhaps holding more importance than the wedding bouquet, would be the wedding cake! Luckily, such items are also available for sale throughout Karakura. At Koribureku, one can purchase the wedding cake “Opulenance” for ¥75,000. If this is a bit pricey you can also buy individual slices for ¥5,000. Okinawa also has a Dessert Cake “bluebell” for the price of ¥65,000.
Taking this all into account we can create various price ranges, depending on the wants and needs of the happy couple!
| Luxury | Premium | Budget | Bare Minimum | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marriage Fee | ¥10,000 | ¥10,000 | ¥10,000 | ¥10,000 |
| ID Fee (x2) | ¥10,000 | ¥10,000 | ¥10,000 | ¥10,000 |
| Wedding Ring | ¥100,000 | ¥60,000 | ¥12,000 | ¥0 |
| Wedding Bouquet | ¥45,000 | ¥30,000 | ¥8,000 | ¥0 |
| Wedding Cake | ¥75,000 | ¥65,000 | ¥5,000 | ¥0 |
| Total: | 240,000 | 175,000 | 45,000 | 20,000 |
To be clear, these prices are merely a potential option. Hidden costs pay popup with you knowing, or perhaps you want additional services such as catering at one of Karakura's local restaurants or perhaps certain decorations. All of these wants should be planned for before the big day. But, hopefully this outline may give any lovebirds out there an understanding of the associated cost.
| Death Every person or family will grieve differently, some immortalize their lost ones with the use of Gravestones. A marker with information about the deceased individual, usually indicating their full name alongside the date of birth to date of death, and optionally an epitaph or quote for or from the deceased. These gravestones act as a marker of the individual's final resting point for those who cared for them. It is not in the slightest a required or needed procedure. Every person grieves in a different manner as stated before, some may opt for cremation or other rituals. With Gravestones being a popular option however, the Karakura government does have options in place. Specifically in regards to gravestones, documentation provided directly from town hall states: | 
ⓘ Karakura Graveyard, near the Church and Ochiba Forest Entrance |
The graveyard in question can be found against the Church in Motokawa District, near the end of Komichi Road and the entrance to Ochiba Forest. Compared to the other costs usually required from town hall this one is fairly steep, is this simply the price those grieving are willing to pay or is exorbitant pricing by town hall?
Demand Balance
The pricing may begin to be understood by understanding the supply issues Karakura faces in this regard. When one inspects the graveyard it becomes clear it is home to many blank slots, this is an intended phenomenon. On site, there are only a total of 71 gravestones; with a mere 22 being taken. Meaning, only 49 gravestones are left available. WIth such a low supply paired with the nature of the site meaning no additional slots will become available, and what looks to be zero intention of expansion of the site the government is forced to react strategically with their supply.
This is done through the exorbitant pricing we discussed before. By attaching such a steep price tag demand is quelled, forcing citizens to alternatives whether it being another ritual practice such as cremation or perhaps the usage of a graveyard outside of city limits. While this does not solve the potential issue of limited spots available it lowers the urgency immensely, virtually moving the problems timeframe many years down the line.
