Funeral Home Opens "Shukatsu University" to Help People "Graduate" from Life with Peace of Mind!

Yokogawa Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Gyoda City, Saitama Prefecture, Representative: Eiji Yokogawa), which undertakes funerals under the brand names "Gyoda Ceremony®" and "Family Funeral Famille®", will hold free monthly seminars on the theme of "Shukatsu" (end-of-life planning) for seniors in the community starting from April 2026. Participants will become "students" and receive lectures from local experts, aiming to "graduate" with peace of mind as they approach the end of their lives. The program was so well-received last year, with over 20 participants attending each session, that it will be held again this year. A total of six enjoyable sessions are planned, including not only classroom lectures but also on-site visits and hands-on experiences. [Link to page]

[Course Schedule]

1. April 11 (Sat) 15:00-16:00 Famille Gyoda [Ekimae House]
   "Entrance Ceremony ~Let's Start Preparing for Old Age~" The reality of the funeral business, where troubles continue due to exaggerated advertising!

2. May 9 (Sat) 15:00-16:00 Famille Kumagaya [Ishihara Hall]
   "Pre-mortem Organization and Home Decluttering" Sorting unnecessary items and disposing of vacant homes *Includes a visit to a recycling shop

3. June 13 (Sat) 15:00-16:00 Tree Burial Cemetery Famille Bankan
   "Tree Burial Tour and Grave Relocation" On-site tour of Kumagaya's tree burial ground opening this spring and Goma prayer experience!

4. July 11 (Sat) 15:00-16:00 Famille Kumagaya [Ishihara Hall]
   "Reliable Local Lifelong Support" Helpful services and systems such as shopping assistance and watchful care

5. August 8 (Sat) 15:00-16:00 Famille Gyoda [Ekimae House]
   "Seniors' Money, Insurance, and Pensions" How to utilize money now to prepare for retirement funds

6. September 23 (Wed, Holiday) 10:00-12:00 Famille Kumagaya [Ishihara Hall]
   "Graduation Ceremony ~Casket Experience and Ending Note~" Embalmer's demonstration and commemorative photo shoot for posthumous portraits
   *Course content is subject to change without notice.

[How to Apply]

Telephone reception: Gyoda Ceremony Group's Shukatsu Club "Famille" Toll-free number 0120-0983-87

[Purpose of the Course]

As life expectancy reaches 100 years, an increasing number of seniors are engaging in "Shukatsu" (end-of-life planning) to live better and more authentically. The media frequently covers topics such as "funerals," "graves," and "disposal of ancestral homes," leading some individuals to understand and prepare for their own end-of-life planning. However, due to their age, seniors can sometimes be misled by incorrect information or become involved in trouble, highlighting the need for reliable information dissemination and support from the local community. Therefore, as a local funeral home, we opened "Shukatsu University" to provide accurate information and practical insights, enabling people to engage in end-of-life planning with peace of mind.

Local experts are invited to speak at each session, and to encourage easy participation, the courses are planned to be enjoyable, incorporating not only lectures but also tours and hands-on experiences, with the goal of achieving "graduation." When held last year (2025) over eight sessions, each session had over 20 participants, and 15 individuals successfully "graduated" after completing all courses, receiving high praise.

There are still many seniors in the community who "want to learn more" and "want to prepare so as not to trouble their families," leading us to believe that as a local company, we should continue this initiative. Therefore, we have decided to hold it again this year, following last year's success.

[2025 (Reiwa 7) Achievements] Date, Course Theme, and Instructor

1. April 21 Funerals and Graves Funeral Director

   The changing forms of funerals and graves due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and what to prepare [Link to page]

2. May 25 Decluttering / Buying and Selling Unnecessary Items Owner of a Recycling Shop
   Tips for sorting items to discard, keep, or sell, and organizing one's belongings [Link to page]

3. June 10 Identity Guarantee / Guardianship System Social Worker
   Advance preparations and systems to entrust one's affairs after death with peace of mind, even for single individuals [Link to page]

4. July 20 Inheritance and Wills Tax Accountant

   Creating an asset inventory, preparing procedures, and writing a will during one's lifetime [Link to page]

5. August 23 Disposal of Ancestral Homes and Taxes Inheritance Diagnostician

   Measures against vacant homes, which only increase in cost and effort when postponed [Link to page]

6. September 21 Nursing Care and Nursing Homes Lawyer

   Balancing nursing care and work to avoid becoming a "nursing care refugee," and understanding nursing care services [Link to page]

7. October 25 Pension Insurance Life Plan Financial Planner

   Extending asset longevity, understanding available systems, and reviewing household finances and insurance [Link to page]

8. November 29 Family Meeting Shukatsu Ojisan (End-of-Life Planning Uncle)

   Communicating that family discussions lead to personal preparation and peace of mind [Link to page]

[Organizer]

Yokogawa Co., Ltd. "Famille of Gyoda Ceremony Group"

A funeral home in Saitama Prefecture founded in 1926. In addition to undertaking funerals in Gyoda City and Kumagaya City under the brand names "Gyoda Ceremony®" and "Family Funeral Famille®", the company also develops tree burials and end-of-life planning events, widely supporting seniors. [Homepage]