Realizing a world where 'loved ones can be cherished forever' and spreading 'kuyo' (memorial services) throughout Japan that are not confined to mere forms.

Our company endorses April Dream, an initiative to make April 1st a day for announcing dreams. This press release represents the dream of "Kato Co., Ltd."

■ Graves are the "homeland of the heart," but the form of memorial services can be freer

We, Kato Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Yodogawa-ku, Osaka), have long connected the deceased with those left behind through the "grave." We believe that graves are the "homeland of the heart" where family bonds can be reaffirmed across time, and an unwavering central point in the culture of memorial services. However, at the same time, we also believe: "The ways in which we remember our loved ones can be more diverse and freer." In our busy daily lives, it is rare for people to constantly think about graves or memorial services. The reality is that these have become extraordinary events, somewhere far off in our consciousness. Precisely because of this modern era, why not boldly broaden the definition of "kuyo" (memorial services)? For example, making a phone call to parents back home to report on recent events. Or visiting parents' home with family on their birthday and handing over a gift. These are generally called "filial piety," but at their root is nothing other than "gratitude" towards those who raised us and our ancestors who connected the chain of life. If "kuyo" is the act of expressing gratitude to the deceased, then "filial piety" is merely the same act with the object replaced by living parents. Considering this, couldn't even casual acts of filial piety be seen as stemming from similar feelings? It's not just about putting our hands together in front of a grave; it's about us, who are alive now, thinking of someone and cherishing ourselves. The essence of kuyo resides in these continuous daily activities. Looking up at the sky and remembering the deceased, cooking their favorite dish from when they were alive, or silently reporting our current worries and joys to them in our hearts. All of these are precious variations of kuyo.

■ Supporting each individual's "feelings" through the media "Koko Kojitsu"

While continuing to preserve the tradition of graves, we are also disseminating diverse forms of kuyo and tips for filial piety through our media site "Koko Kojitsu". This media is a place to convey the "essence of kuyo" as envisioned by Kato.

• Inheritance of Tradition: Correctly conveying the meaning and etiquette of grave visits to protect peace of mind.

• Affirmation of Diversity: Proposing ways to "convey feelings" that are not bound by formality and are adapted to modern lifestyles.

• Mental Care: Delivering the message "it's okay as you are" to those who are suffering from seeking too much correctness in kuyo or filial piety, or those struggling to escape sadness.

We want to wholeheartedly support all "acts of cherishing loved ones" that stem from the tradition of "graves," while valuing that tradition.

■ Our current initiatives to make dreams a reality

To realize our future dreams, we are currently embarking on various endeavors that go beyond the traditional framework of graves.

Learning and cherishing the preciousness of life: Life education kit "Mitodoke Nikki"

This is an observation diary co-developed with students from Hosei University, designed to help children responsibly care for small lives such as insects and pets until the very end. While alive, they name them and rejoice in their growth, and after their passing, they use the included kit to build a grave and offer prayers. Through this series of experiences, the essence of kuyo – "cherishing and never forgetting" – is nurtured in the hearts of the next generation.

A place of kuyo that resonates with the senses: Pinwheel Memorial Festival and Candle Night

Transforming the image of cemeteries from "dark and lonely places" to "places where feelings are colored." Through events within the cemetery, such as the "Pinwheel Memorial Festival" where wishes are entrusted to colorful pinwheels, and "Candle Night" where the deceased are remembered with countless lights, kuyo is transformed into a beautiful and warmly memorable experience.

Visualizing feelings for the deceased: Message Bird

Messages to the deceased resting in graves are written on paper shaped like small birds and hung on "Message Trees to Heaven" installed in rest areas at each cemetery. By expressing these feelings in writing, they are released into the outside world and will soar to heaven.

Nurturing bonds through play: "Family Trip Around Japan Sugoroku"

Born from the media site "Koko Kojitsu," this tool allows three generations to talk about family history and memories through play. We believe that such daily communication forms a rich foundation that supports future kuyo and filial piety.

■ The landscape we aim for in 2030

Our dream is for the word kuyo to shed its connotations of "obligation" and "formality" and transform into "the most creative and warm time of continuous dialogue with loved ones." We believe that by 2030, this landscape will unfold:

"Creative Kuyo" integrated into daily life

While valuing the tradition of grave visits, people will also converse with the deceased in their own unique ways on other days. They might open the deceased's favorite wine on an anniversary, or try out "new filial piety" ideas introduced in the media with their family. Kuyo will not just be about tracing prescribed forms; it will become the world's warmest and freest form of expression, where each individual creates a tribute to their loved ones.

Re-weaving the "story of life" across generations

Because there is a sense of security that "our roots" (graves) are protected, the next generation of children can affirm their own connection to life. Through media, they will encounter evidence of their ancestors' lives and wisdom, and feel the "relay of life" continuing from the past to the future. What we aim for is a society where everyone can live facing forward, within a fundamental sense of solidarity that "they are not alone." Kato does not just provide graves as objects. While accompanying the story that continues from the past to the future through graves, we will continue to explore and propose further forms of gratitude that expand from there. This is the future we envision: "a world where loved ones can be cherished forever."