Koekisha Releases Two Free Guides for Owner-Managed Companies: Preparing for the Unexpected Passing of a Founder or Chairman as Corporate Risk Management

Koekisha Co., Ltd., a core funeral company of San Holdings, Inc. (Tokyo Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; Osaka Headquarters: Kita-ku, Osaka; President: Satoshi Harishima; TSE Prime: 9628), has released two free guides for presidents and staff of owner-managed companies to help them prepare for the unexpected passing of a founder or chairman: a "Memorial Ceremony Format Guide" and a "Joint Funeral/Funeral Preparation Guide." These materials systematically summarize the knowledge necessary to make appropriate decisions without panic in the event of an emergency, as part of corporate risk management. The unexpected passing of a founder, former president, or chairman is a major turning point for a company. However, many companies are forced to decide on the form of the funeral and the necessary preparations only after the event occurs. In recent years, the forms of farewell have diversified, including "Farewell Gatherings," "Joint Funerals," "Company Funerals," and "Private Funerals + Farewell Gatherings," making it more difficult to judge what is best for the company. For owner-managed companies in particular, many factors must be considered, such as feelings toward the founder, corporate culture, and relationships with business partners. If the company faces this moment without preparation, it may lead to regrettable decisions. The two guides released this time address these concerns. The "Memorial Ceremony Format Guide" systematically explains the characteristics, merits, precautions, and preparation periods for various forms such as "Farewell Gatherings," "Joint Funerals," and "Private Funerals + Farewell Gatherings." It allows companies to consider the optimal form in advance based on their size, culture, and the deceased's position and relationships. The "Joint Funeral/Funeral Preparation Guide" provides comprehensive, practical know-how on "Joint Funerals," which are hosted jointly by the bereaved family and the company, including keys to success, common troubles and how to avoid them, and sample timetables. The passing of a founder or chairman can happen at an unexpected time. If companies put off preparations by saying "they are still healthy" or "it's bad luck to talk about it," they will be forced to make important decisions without sufficient time when the time comes. This can lead to situations where the deceased's wishes are not met, perceptions differ from those of the bereaved family, or consideration for business partners is insufficient. By considering these matters in advance, companies can compare multiple options calmly, align intentions with the bereaved family and stakeholders, plan budgets and preparation systems, and respond smoothly in an emergency. Koekisha believes that the most important thing for a company in such an event is to show respect for the deceased's life, support the bereaved family's feelings, and fulfill social responsibilities. To do this, it is important to know the options and consider the form that suits the company during normal times, rather than panicking when the time comes. We hope these two guides will serve as a trigger for everyone to start considering preparations for "that time" and help with corporate risk management. The materials can be downloaded for free from the Koekisha Corporate Sales Department's download page (https://www.shaso.jp/service_download_list/).