Approximately 62% "Do Not Understand at All/Much" Differences in Funeral Formats. What are the Desired Formats and What Do They Want to Cherish?

■ How much do you know about funeral formats? "Funerals," an unavoidable part of life. However, when it comes to thinking about your own or your family's funeral, how many people are surprisingly unaware of the different formats available and how they differ? Therefore, in collaboration with Hatao Funeral Home, we conducted a survey on "funerals" targeting 500 men and women aged 40 and over. **Survey Overview: "Survey on Funeral Arrangements"** Survey Method: Internet survey Survey Period: March 5, 2026 - March 19, 2026 Target Audience: Men and women aged 40 and over nationwide Valid Responses: 500 samples Questions: Question 1: From the following, please select all funeral formats you are aware of. (Multiple answers allowed) Question 2: To what extent do you understand the differences between each format? Question 3: What kind of funeral format do you desire for yourself or your family? Question 4: Please explain your reasons. *For "Other," please also state what format you desire for yourself or your family. Question 5: What "do you want to cherish" at a funeral? (Multiple answers allowed) Question 6: What do you want to cherish most at a funeral and why? *In principle, figures are rounded to the second decimal place, so the total may not be 100%. ■ 87.8% Respond "Know About Family Funerals" First, we asked about the funeral formats people are aware of. The funeral format most people are aware of is "Family Funeral" at 87.8%. This was followed by "General Funeral" at 64.2%, "Cremation Ceremony" at 33.2%, and "One-Day Funeral" at 24.0%. The awareness of "Family Funeral" was overwhelmingly high. This may be influenced by the increasing opportunities to see them in TV commercials and internet advertisements. On the other hand, it seems that many people are still unaware of one-day funerals and cremation ceremonies. ■ 62.2% Respond "Do Not Understand at All/Much" the Differences in Funeral Formats Next, we asked how well people understand the differences between funeral formats. As a result, 41.4% answered "Do not understand very well," making it the most common response. When combined with "Do not understand at all" at 20.8%, it was found that 62.2% of people do not fully understand the differences in funeral formats. "Understand somewhat" was 33.6%, and "Understand well" was only 4.2%. Many people have heard the names but do not grasp the specific differences. Since funerals are not frequent experiences, it is important to gather information in advance so as not to be flustered in case of need. ■ 63.8% Desire "Family Funeral" Next, we asked what kind of funeral format people desire for themselves or their families. The most common answer was "Family Funeral" at 63.8%, indicating that over 60% of people desire a family funeral. This was followed by "Cremation Ceremony" at 11.0%, "One-Day Funeral" at 7.6%, "General Funeral" at 7.4%, and "Other" at 10.2%. We asked for the reasons for each response and will introduce some of them. Respondents who chose "Family Funeral" - Because I want to keep costs down and have a funeral in a calm environment with only family. (40s, Female) - Because I want to say goodbye slowly with only relatives. (40s, Female) - Because it doesn't seem to be a large-scale event and is less burdensome for the family. (40s, Male) Respondents who chose "General Funeral" - Because the general format is the safest. (40s, Male) - I don't really know yet, so the normal way is best. (40s, Female) - Because I would like to invite friends and acquaintances if possible. (60s, Male) Respondents who chose "One-Day Funeral" - Because it seems cheap and can be finished quickly. (40s, Male) - Because fewer days reduce the burden on relatives. (40s, Male) - Because I want to finish it in one day, considering the burden on the family. (50s, Male) Respondents who chose "Cremation Ceremony" - Anything simplest is fine. (40s, Female) - Because funeral costs are low and it's less burdensome for the bereaved and relatives. (50s, Male) - Because it's less troublesome and costs can be reduced. (50s, Female) Respondents who chose "Other" - I don't want anything special. Only the legal minimum is needed. (40s, Male) - Direct cremation. I'm not interested in ceremonies. (40s, Female) - Direct cremation is fine. No need for a funeral. (50s, Female) Reasons for desiring a family funeral included "want to keep costs down," "want to say goodbye slowly with only family," and "don't want to burden the surviving family." It can be inferred that there is a growing desire to see off the deceased quietly with only close friends and family, rather than a large-scale funeral. Additionally, among those who answered "Other," there were opinions such as "will not hold a funeral" and "direct cremation is fine." While funeral ideas vary from person to person, there seems to be a strengthening trend towards desiring a farewell that is true to oneself, rather than being bound by format. ■ 46.0% Respond "Keeping Costs Down" as What They Want to Cherish at a Funeral Finally, we also asked what people want to cherish at a funeral. The most common answer was "Keeping costs down" at 46.0%. This was followed by "Allowing family and relatives to say goodbye slowly" at 40.4%, and "Reducing the burden of preparation" at 26.6%. While cost is the most important factor for many, over 40% of respondents also value the time to say goodbye slowly with their family. This indicates a desire for balance, seeking to reduce financial burdens while still providing a heartfelt farewell. We asked specifically what they want to cherish most at a funeral and will introduce some of the responses. What to Cherish Most at a Funeral - Because I believe the costs should be used by the surviving family for their future life, rather than for the deceased. (40s, Male) - If the deceased had a will, I believe it should be respected above all else. (40s, Male) - To be able to say a proper farewell in a quiet and calm atmosphere. (40s, Male) - To create the last moments with family carefully. (40s, Male) - Because holding a funeral can be quite a burden, I want to maintain the deceased's memory while keeping the burden to a minimum. (40s, Male) - To reduce the burden on the bereaved. They are likely under a lot of stress due to being busy with various things, and many people fall ill after the funeral. (50s, Female) Many comments focused on "wanting to cherish time with family," "wanting to reduce the burden on the bereaved," and "wanting to prioritize feelings." Even among those concerned about costs, the underlying sentiment is often kindness, wanting "not to cause trouble for the surviving family." ■ Summary This survey revealed that over 60% of people do not fully understand the differences in funeral formats. Nevertheless, it is clear that many people desire a "Family Funeral" and seek time to say goodbye slowly with their family while keeping costs down. Values regarding funerals are undoubtedly changing, and the desire to "prioritize feelings over format" is spreading across all age groups. Because it is a place to see off a loved one, it is important to know about the various formats in advance and discuss them with your family. To avoid being flustered in times of need and to have a farewell without regrets for both the deceased and the bereaved, why not start gathering information little by little now? - Please state that the source is "Survey conducted by NEXER Inc. and Hatao Funeral Home." - Please set up a link to Hatao Funeral Home (https://hataosougisha.com/). **About Hatao Funeral Home:** Corporate Name: Kumamoto Prefecture Ceremony Mutual Aid Co., Ltd. Address: 1-12-15 Kokufu, Chuo Ward, Kumamoto City, 862-0949 Representative Director: Isshin Hatao Tel: 096-364-3220 URL: https://hataosougisha.com/ **About NEXER Inc.:** Headquarters: Rise Arena Bldg. 11F, 4-5-2 Higashi-Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo, 170-0013 Representative Director: Yuya Miyata URL: https://www.nexer.co.jp Business Activities: Internet Research, SEO, Web Branding, Review Content, Real Shop Support, Website Production