[Event Report] Deities and Buddhas Harmonize, Enshrining Thirty Spirits. Kofun Co., Ltd. Holds Spring Ritual 'Mitama Matsuri' at Osaka Kofun Grave. 'Tamagushi Hōten' by a Chief Priest in front of a Torii Gate and 'Shimei Sōjō' by a Shinto Priest: Prayers of Shinto-Buddhist Syncretism.

Kofun Co., Ltd. (Representative Director: Tsuneyasu Takeda, Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo), which revives Japan's unique "kofun culture" in the modern era, solemnly held its spring ritual, 'Mitama Matsuri,' at the "Osaka Kofun Grave" in Daito City, Osaka Prefecture, on Saturday, March 21, Reiwa 8 (2026).

This ritual is held twice a year, coinciding with the spring and autumn equinoxes. This time, the names of a total of thirty spirits, including newly interred individuals, were read aloud by a Shinto priest. Amidst prayers of Shinto-Buddhist syncretism, their spirits were comforted together with their attending families.

Prayers of "Shinto-Buddhist Syncretism" Beyond Forms

The most symbolic moment of this Mitama Matsuri was when a Buddhist monk reverently offered a tamagushi (sacred branch) in front of a torii gate, a sacred area of Shinto. This scene, realized precisely because the location symbolizes the ancient Japanese form of "kofun" (keyhole-shaped burial mound), transcended sectarian boundaries and was deeply etched in the hearts of attendees as a pure place of "prayer" to remember loved ones.

The Ritual of "Shimei Sōjō" (Name Recitation) to Engrave Each Individual's Life

Following the chanting of sutras by the Buddhist monk, in the middle of the ceremony, within the tranquil precincts, the names of thirty individuals currently interred, who were due for their Shikinen-sai (annual memorial service), were carefully recited one by one by a Shinto priest in the ritual of "Shimei Sōjō."

Amidst the refreshing spring breeze, attendees were seen quietly pressing their hands together, some with tears in their eyes, as the names of their family members echoed through the sacred grounds.

*Shikinen-sai (annual memorial services held 1, 3, 5, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 years after death, and then every 100 years thereafter)

A New Standard for Memorial Services, Connecting to 100 Years into the Future

The "kofun" embodies the Japanese worldview, cherished since ancient times, of "nature, deities, and humans coexisting."

Representative Director Tsuneyasu Takeda states, "A grave should not be a place to seal the past, but a place where future families can gather with pride." Moving forward, through the twice-yearly Mitama Matsuri and Kofun Alumni Gatherings, the company will continue to spread a "new culture of memorial services" nationwide, serving as a core for shrine revitalization and community building.

Osaka Memorial Park Kofun Grave

https://madoguchi.kofun.co.jp/products/detail/9 https://www.youtube.com/embed/EwunGJ5uzZg

Revitalizing Kofun as a "Modern Place of Prayer" Kofun are heritage sites symbolizing Japanese culture, where kings and powerful clans once rested. "Takeda-style Kofun Graves" are a reconstruction of these kofun for modern people who worry about "having no one to succeed their grave" due to the declining birthrate and aging population. This entirely new style of prayer, fusing history, design, and perpetual memorial services, is now attracting significant attention.

The Stage: Kansai's First and Only Unique Cemetery An impressive panoramic view of the Osaka Plain from a hilltop on the slopes of Mt. Ikoma, a track record of being selected as "Kansai's No. 1 Cemetery Grand Prix," and a special space designed and supervised by the world-renowned architect Tadao Ando Architect & Associates. It is a sacred site unparalleled nationwide, where views, achievements, and design converge.

Osaka Memorial Park Kofun Grave On-site Briefing

▼ Applications are now open for briefings by Representative Director Tsuneyasu Takeda!▼ https://osaka-memorialpark.co.jp/information/3055/

For the latest information on kofun graves, please check the 'Kofun no Madoguchi' email distribution.

▼ 'Kofun no Madoguchi' Customer Registration ▼ https://madoguchi.kofun.co.jp/entry

・Kofun grave development status nationwide ・Introduction of our initiatives and new services ・Information on new kofun graves in your specified region ・Information on on-site briefings and tours in your specified region

Our website 'Kofun no Madoguchi' is equipped with various functions necessary from application to post-contract, including kofun grave contracts, booking interment/rituals, and confirming annual memorial services.

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Press Inquiries

Kofun Co., Ltd. PR Contact: Marumo Phone: 03-6453-6662 Email: marumo@kofun.co.jp

Company Profile

Company Name: Kofun Co., Ltd. Representative Director: Tsuneyasu Takeda Location: 5-13-16 Shiba, Minato-ku, Tokyo Date of Establishment: April 1, Reiwa 6 (2024) Sales Site: 'Kofun no Madoguchi' https://madoguchi.kofun.co.jp Official HP: https://kofun.co.jp/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@zkf_kofun Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zenpokoenfun_jp/ X: https://x.com/zenpokoenfun_jp/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/zenpokoenfun.jp/