Hiroshima Prefecture's First Takeda-style Kofun-bo Breaks Ground—Ceremonies Handled by Hirose Shrine, Groundbreaking Ritual Held at Memorial Park Kannon Shinmachi. Completion Expected Around December This Year.
Kofun Corporation has begun construction on Hiroshima Prefecture's first Takeda-style Kofun-bo (ancient burial mound type grave) at Memorial Park Kannon Shinmachi. Hirose Shrine will oversee the rituals, and the perpetual memorial grave, designed to meet modern needs, is expected to be completed around December this year.
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Kofun Corporation (Representative Director: Tsuneyasu Takeda) held a groundbreaking ceremony on February 24, Reiwa 8 (2026), at the planned construction site within Memorial Park Kannon Shinmachi, a cemetery in Hiroshima City, Hiroshima Prefecture, prior to the commencement of construction for the Kofun-bo (ancient burial mound type grave).
The groundbreaking ceremony on that day was solemnly conducted by priests from the venerable Hirose Shrine in Hiroshima City, following traditional rituals such as Norito Soujou (recitation of Shinto prayers), Jichin no Gi (ground-breaking ritual), and Tamagushi Houten (offering of sacred branches). All stakeholders attended, praying for construction safety, the successful completion of the Kofun-bo, and its perpetual role as a place of prayer.
After its completion, the Kofun-bo's memorial services will be performed by Hirose Shrine. The continuous performance of ceremonies by a local shrine ensures that it will be a place of memorial that contractors and bereaved families can entrust with peace of mind.
The Kofun-bo in Hiroshima City is one of the Takeda-style Kofun-bo that our company is developing nationwide. It is a perpetual memorial grave that reconstructs the ancient Japanese grave style, the 'Zempō-kōen-fun' (keyhole-shaped burial mound), as a contemporary place of memorial. It is attracting attention as a new burial site that caters to modern needs—no successor required, no annual maintenance fees, and no religious affiliation—while preserving Japanese culture and the spirit of prayer.
Kofun-bo developed previously in Chiba, Kagawa, and Osaka Prefectures have garnered support from many people, and this groundbreaking in Hiroshima City marks the first development in the Chugoku region.
Completion is scheduled for around December this year.
After completion, on-site explanatory meetings are also planned, with details to be announced sequentially on our official website, 'Kofun no Madoguchi' (Kofun Window).
▼ 'Kofun no Madoguchi' Customer Registration ▼
https://madoguchi.kofun.co.jp/entry
About the Groundbreaking Ceremony
A groundbreaking ceremony (Jichin-sai) is an ancient Japanese Shinto ritual performed before commencing construction or landscaping work. It involves honoring the land's deity, expressing gratitude for using the land, and praying for construction safety and the lasting prosperity of the building or facility. It is widely performed not only for homes and commercial facilities but also for establishments that value sanctity and public utility.
During this groundbreaking ceremony, after purifying the participants and the ceremony site with Shubatstu (ritual purification), the deities were welcomed with Koushin no Gi (invitation of deities), and the purpose and prayers for the construction were reported with Norito Soujou. Subsequently, the ceremony proceeded to Jichin no Gi, which includes Kuwaire (first turning of the soil) and Chinmotsu Mainou (burying of offerings), followed by Tamagushi Houten by the attendees, Tessen (offering of food to deities), and Shouhin no Gi (return of deities), concluding the sacred ritual in solemnity.
As Kofun-bo represents the continuation of ancient Japanese burial culture into the modern era, these traditional rituals are highly valued even at the commencement of construction, marking its first step.
About Memorial Park Kannon Shinmachi
Memorial Park Kannon Shinmachi is a tree-burial cemetery located in the heart of Hiroshima City, a rare 'urban gardening cemetery and tree-burial site' within Hiroshima. It has long been popular as an urban park cemetery equipped with various tree burials, perpetual memorial graves, and traditional graves.
Memorial Park Kannon Shinmachi
4-4-9 Kannon Shinmachi, Nishi-ku, Hiroshima City, Hiroshima Prefecture 733-0036
https://maps.app.goo.gl/KkdEDUtY7FjVS4rD9?g_st=ipc
Cemetery Information
https://www.oozora-memorial.com/reien/kannonshinmachi/
What is the 'Kofun-bo' to be established in Hiroshima City?
During the Kofun period, Kofun (burial mounds) were built to pacify the spirits of powerful individuals and wish for their peaceful repose.
Among them, Zempō-kōen-fun (keyhole-shaped burial mounds) were especially designed for those of high status.
Our company's Kofun-bo faithfully reproduces these ancient royal tombs with the cooperation of archaeologists, revitalizing them as unique perpetual memorial graves and collective graves suited to the modern needs of a rapidly aging society with declining birthrates. Memorial Park Kannon Shinmachi's Kofun-bo is a hybrid Kofun-bo featuring three types of burial methods within one mound.
▼ 3 Burial Types
1. Tree Burial Type
This type involves burial in an urn on the surface of the Kofun-bo. Also accommodates pet burials.
2. Stone Chamber Type
Burial in an urn within the stone chamber inside the Kofun-bo.
3. Joint Burial Type
Burial in a specialized linen bag within one large ossuary.
Special Pricing for 'Kofun no Madoguchi' Registrants
Customers registered with 'Kofun no Madoguchi' will be offered a preferential 10% discount price for contracts before completion. Please register to be among the first to receive information about the Hiroshima City Kofun-bo.
▼ 'Kofun no Madoguchi' Customer Registration ▼
https://madoguchi.kofun.co.jp/entry
About Kofun Corporation
Our company is an end-of-life related business that develops and sells 'Kofun-bo' (ancient burial mound type graves), which are tree burials faithfully reproducing the ancient Japanese Zempō-kōen-fun. Currently, we have three Kofun-bo in Chiba, Kagawa, and Osaka Prefectures.
The groundbreaking ceremony on that day was solemnly conducted by priests from the venerable Hirose Shrine in Hiroshima City, following traditional rituals such as Norito Soujou (recitation of Shinto prayers), Jichin no Gi (ground-breaking ritual), and Tamagushi Houten (offering of sacred branches). All stakeholders attended, praying for construction safety, the successful completion of the Kofun-bo, and its perpetual role as a place of prayer.
After its completion, the Kofun-bo's memorial services will be performed by Hirose Shrine. The continuous performance of ceremonies by a local shrine ensures that it will be a place of memorial that contractors and bereaved families can entrust with peace of mind.
The Kofun-bo in Hiroshima City is one of the Takeda-style Kofun-bo that our company is developing nationwide. It is a perpetual memorial grave that reconstructs the ancient Japanese grave style, the 'Zempō-kōen-fun' (keyhole-shaped burial mound), as a contemporary place of memorial. It is attracting attention as a new burial site that caters to modern needs—no successor required, no annual maintenance fees, and no religious affiliation—while preserving Japanese culture and the spirit of prayer.
Kofun-bo developed previously in Chiba, Kagawa, and Osaka Prefectures have garnered support from many people, and this groundbreaking in Hiroshima City marks the first development in the Chugoku region.
Completion is scheduled for around December this year.
After completion, on-site explanatory meetings are also planned, with details to be announced sequentially on our official website, 'Kofun no Madoguchi' (Kofun Window).
▼ 'Kofun no Madoguchi' Customer Registration ▼
https://madoguchi.kofun.co.jp/entry
About the Groundbreaking Ceremony
A groundbreaking ceremony (Jichin-sai) is an ancient Japanese Shinto ritual performed before commencing construction or landscaping work. It involves honoring the land's deity, expressing gratitude for using the land, and praying for construction safety and the lasting prosperity of the building or facility. It is widely performed not only for homes and commercial facilities but also for establishments that value sanctity and public utility.
During this groundbreaking ceremony, after purifying the participants and the ceremony site with Shubatstu (ritual purification), the deities were welcomed with Koushin no Gi (invitation of deities), and the purpose and prayers for the construction were reported with Norito Soujou. Subsequently, the ceremony proceeded to Jichin no Gi, which includes Kuwaire (first turning of the soil) and Chinmotsu Mainou (burying of offerings), followed by Tamagushi Houten by the attendees, Tessen (offering of food to deities), and Shouhin no Gi (return of deities), concluding the sacred ritual in solemnity.
As Kofun-bo represents the continuation of ancient Japanese burial culture into the modern era, these traditional rituals are highly valued even at the commencement of construction, marking its first step.
About Memorial Park Kannon Shinmachi
Memorial Park Kannon Shinmachi is a tree-burial cemetery located in the heart of Hiroshima City, a rare 'urban gardening cemetery and tree-burial site' within Hiroshima. It has long been popular as an urban park cemetery equipped with various tree burials, perpetual memorial graves, and traditional graves.
Memorial Park Kannon Shinmachi
4-4-9 Kannon Shinmachi, Nishi-ku, Hiroshima City, Hiroshima Prefecture 733-0036
https://maps.app.goo.gl/KkdEDUtY7FjVS4rD9?g_st=ipc
Cemetery Information
https://www.oozora-memorial.com/reien/kannonshinmachi/
What is the 'Kofun-bo' to be established in Hiroshima City?
During the Kofun period, Kofun (burial mounds) were built to pacify the spirits of powerful individuals and wish for their peaceful repose.
Among them, Zempō-kōen-fun (keyhole-shaped burial mounds) were especially designed for those of high status.
Our company's Kofun-bo faithfully reproduces these ancient royal tombs with the cooperation of archaeologists, revitalizing them as unique perpetual memorial graves and collective graves suited to the modern needs of a rapidly aging society with declining birthrates. Memorial Park Kannon Shinmachi's Kofun-bo is a hybrid Kofun-bo featuring three types of burial methods within one mound.
▼ 3 Burial Types
1. Tree Burial Type
This type involves burial in an urn on the surface of the Kofun-bo. Also accommodates pet burials.
2. Stone Chamber Type
Burial in an urn within the stone chamber inside the Kofun-bo.
3. Joint Burial Type
Burial in a specialized linen bag within one large ossuary.
Special Pricing for 'Kofun no Madoguchi' Registrants
Customers registered with 'Kofun no Madoguchi' will be offered a preferential 10% discount price for contracts before completion. Please register to be among the first to receive information about the Hiroshima City Kofun-bo.
▼ 'Kofun no Madoguchi' Customer Registration ▼
https://madoguchi.kofun.co.jp/entry
About Kofun Corporation
Our company is an end-of-life related business that develops and sells 'Kofun-bo' (ancient burial mound type graves), which are tree burials faithfully reproducing the ancient Japanese Zempō-kōen-fun. Currently, we have three Kofun-bo in Chiba, Kagawa, and Osaka Prefectures.