Survey Conducted on 'Grave Closing'
A nationwide internet survey targeting 500 men and women in their 40s to 70s regarding 'grave closing' revealed that 42.8% are interested, indicating a certain scale of potential demand. Family members are the most common consultants, but a significant portion remains unconsulted.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 11, 2026 at 18:00
- 🔍 Collected: May 11, 2026 at 09:31
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 11, 2026 at 09:44 (12 min after Collected)
― Survey Overview ―
[Target Audience] Nationwide, men and women in their 40s to 70s
[Survey Period] 2026/04/24 to 2026/04/26
[Survey Method] Internet survey
[Valid Sample Size] 500 people
[Questions]
Q1 Age group and gender
Q2 Have you ever closed a grave?
Q3 When considering grave closing, please select all applicable people you would consult. (Multiple answers)
Q4 When is the timing for consulting about grave closing?
Q5 What is the trigger for considering grave closing?
Q6 Please select up to three media you referred to (or plan to refer to) when considering grave closing. (Up to 3 multiple answers)
[Summary]
◆This survey analyzed the experience/intention, consultation sources, timing of consultation, triggers for consideration, and reference media for grave closing.
◆The 'interested group,' combining those with experience, those currently considering, and those who may consider in the future, totaled 214 cases (42.8%), indicating a certain scale of potential demand.
◆On the other hand, 'no intention to do so in the future' accounted for 286 cases (57.2%), with the uninterested group making up the majority.
〇Interest is highest among those in their 60s, with 53.2% of people in their 60s falling into the experienced, considering, or potentially considering categories.
〇'Husband/Wife' is the most common consultation source at 33.2%. However, 'do not consult anyone' is also high at 32.8%, indicating a large segment of unconsulted individuals before information gathering.
〇The most significant specific issue triggering consideration is 'managing and visiting the current grave is difficult' at 21.0%.
〇Among reference media, 'cemetery/temple websites' ranked first at 27.8%. A tendency to combine official information from specialized institutions with comparative information from TV programs and portal sites is observed.
[Survey Overview and Sample Characteristics]
The aggregation was based on a total of 500 respondents. For Q3 and Q6, since multiple answers were allowed, percentages are calculated as 'selection rate among respondents,' and the total may exceed 100%. Q6 was a multiple-choice question with a maximum of three selections.
As a point of caution, males accounted for 76.6% of the sample, so overall values are strongly influenced by male responses. Gender comparisons and insights for women should be interpreted based on the 117 female samples.
[Analysis of Grave Closing Experience and Intentions]
'May consider in the future' accounts for 34.2%, forming a larger potential group than those currently executing or considering. 'Have done' and 'considering' combined only account for 43 cases (8.6%), but including the potentially considering group, it exceeds 40%.
By age group, the interest rate is highest among those in their 60s. Grave closing is considered a topic where interest increases not only due to practical issues associated with aging but also at the timing when end-of-life planning and succession problems become apparent. For those aged 70 and above, the proportion of experienced individuals is highest, while the uninterested group is also 60.0%, suggesting a division into those who have already made decisions and those with little interest.
[Analysis of Consultation Sources]
'Husband/Wife' is the most common consultation source with 166 cases (33.2%), indicating that decision-making primarily occurs within the family. However, 'do not consult anyone' is almost at the same level with 164 cases (32.8%), suggesting a large segment of individuals who have not yet taken consultation action. Among specialized consultation sources, 'temples/cemeteries' are highest at 21.0%, ranking above stonemasons, government offices, and funeral homes.
For those 'considering,' the proportion of husband/wife, temples/cemeteries, and stonemasons is high, indicating that as plans become more concrete, contact is made with both close family and specialized businesses. On the other hand, for the uninterested group, 'do not consult anyone' is high at 46.5%, suggesting that rather than directly guiding them to consultation appointments, measures to lower psychological hurdles, such as self-check tools and basic knowledge content, would be effective.
[Analysis of Consultation Timing and Triggers for Consideration]
'Don't know because I don't consult anyone' is the most common response for consultation timing at 37.0%, but specific timings include 'when I started end-of-life planning' at 21.2% and 'when a family member passed away' at 13.4%.
For the potentially considering group, in addition to 'managing and visiting the grave is difficult,' 'curiosity about new burial methods' and 'when visiting a grave or attending a memorial service' rank high. This means that providing information that clearly compares alternative options like tree burials and perpetual memorial graves, rather than just problem-solving appeals, can stimulate interest.
[Analysis of Reference Media]
'Cemetery/temple websites' are the most common reference media with 139 cases (27.8%). 'TV programs,' 'portal sites,' 'stonemason websites,' and 'city/ward/town public relations magazines' follow. There is a combined use of official, reliable information sources and media for comparison and awareness.
For those 'considering,' portal sites, TV programs, and stonemason websites all stand at 42.1%, indicating a higher weighting of information sources that lead to comparison and specific inquiries. For the potentially considering group, cemetery/temple websites and TV programs rank high, suggesting they are in the stage of deepening their understanding with reliable information. AI generation is used as a reference medium by 8.8% and as a consultation source by 3.6%, which is not mainstream at present, but serves as a certain auxiliary channel for initial information gathering.
[Target Audience] Nationwide, men and women in their 40s to 70s
[Survey Period] 2026/04/24 to 2026/04/26
[Survey Method] Internet survey
[Valid Sample Size] 500 people
[Questions]
Q1 Age group and gender
Q2 Have you ever closed a grave?
Q3 When considering grave closing, please select all applicable people you would consult. (Multiple answers)
Q4 When is the timing for consulting about grave closing?
Q5 What is the trigger for considering grave closing?
Q6 Please select up to three media you referred to (or plan to refer to) when considering grave closing. (Up to 3 multiple answers)
[Summary]
◆This survey analyzed the experience/intention, consultation sources, timing of consultation, triggers for consideration, and reference media for grave closing.
◆The 'interested group,' combining those with experience, those currently considering, and those who may consider in the future, totaled 214 cases (42.8%), indicating a certain scale of potential demand.
◆On the other hand, 'no intention to do so in the future' accounted for 286 cases (57.2%), with the uninterested group making up the majority.
〇Interest is highest among those in their 60s, with 53.2% of people in their 60s falling into the experienced, considering, or potentially considering categories.
〇'Husband/Wife' is the most common consultation source at 33.2%. However, 'do not consult anyone' is also high at 32.8%, indicating a large segment of unconsulted individuals before information gathering.
〇The most significant specific issue triggering consideration is 'managing and visiting the current grave is difficult' at 21.0%.
〇Among reference media, 'cemetery/temple websites' ranked first at 27.8%. A tendency to combine official information from specialized institutions with comparative information from TV programs and portal sites is observed.
[Survey Overview and Sample Characteristics]
The aggregation was based on a total of 500 respondents. For Q3 and Q6, since multiple answers were allowed, percentages are calculated as 'selection rate among respondents,' and the total may exceed 100%. Q6 was a multiple-choice question with a maximum of three selections.
As a point of caution, males accounted for 76.6% of the sample, so overall values are strongly influenced by male responses. Gender comparisons and insights for women should be interpreted based on the 117 female samples.
[Analysis of Grave Closing Experience and Intentions]
'May consider in the future' accounts for 34.2%, forming a larger potential group than those currently executing or considering. 'Have done' and 'considering' combined only account for 43 cases (8.6%), but including the potentially considering group, it exceeds 40%.
By age group, the interest rate is highest among those in their 60s. Grave closing is considered a topic where interest increases not only due to practical issues associated with aging but also at the timing when end-of-life planning and succession problems become apparent. For those aged 70 and above, the proportion of experienced individuals is highest, while the uninterested group is also 60.0%, suggesting a division into those who have already made decisions and those with little interest.
[Analysis of Consultation Sources]
'Husband/Wife' is the most common consultation source with 166 cases (33.2%), indicating that decision-making primarily occurs within the family. However, 'do not consult anyone' is almost at the same level with 164 cases (32.8%), suggesting a large segment of individuals who have not yet taken consultation action. Among specialized consultation sources, 'temples/cemeteries' are highest at 21.0%, ranking above stonemasons, government offices, and funeral homes.
For those 'considering,' the proportion of husband/wife, temples/cemeteries, and stonemasons is high, indicating that as plans become more concrete, contact is made with both close family and specialized businesses. On the other hand, for the uninterested group, 'do not consult anyone' is high at 46.5%, suggesting that rather than directly guiding them to consultation appointments, measures to lower psychological hurdles, such as self-check tools and basic knowledge content, would be effective.
[Analysis of Consultation Timing and Triggers for Consideration]
'Don't know because I don't consult anyone' is the most common response for consultation timing at 37.0%, but specific timings include 'when I started end-of-life planning' at 21.2% and 'when a family member passed away' at 13.4%.
For the potentially considering group, in addition to 'managing and visiting the grave is difficult,' 'curiosity about new burial methods' and 'when visiting a grave or attending a memorial service' rank high. This means that providing information that clearly compares alternative options like tree burials and perpetual memorial graves, rather than just problem-solving appeals, can stimulate interest.
[Analysis of Reference Media]
'Cemetery/temple websites' are the most common reference media with 139 cases (27.8%). 'TV programs,' 'portal sites,' 'stonemason websites,' and 'city/ward/town public relations magazines' follow. There is a combined use of official, reliable information sources and media for comparison and awareness.
For those 'considering,' portal sites, TV programs, and stonemason websites all stand at 42.1%, indicating a higher weighting of information sources that lead to comparison and specific inquiries. For the potentially considering group, cemetery/temple websites and TV programs rank high, suggesting they are in the stage of deepening their understanding with reliable information. AI generation is used as a reference medium by 8.8% and as a consultation source by 3.6%, which is not mainstream at present, but serves as a certain auxiliary channel for initial information gathering.