Approximately 70% of those who arranged a funeral had 'no prior preparation.' Approximately 32% reported experiencing difficulties or hardships.

Awareness Survey on Funeral Experiences and 'Things I Wish I Had Done' Regrets

Funerals are not something one experiences many times in life. They often occur suddenly, requiring decisions on funeral homes, contacting attendees, and organizing the proceedings before one can even process their emotions. So, to what extent did those who actually served as chief mourners or conducted funerals prepare in advance? Did they have any 'things I wish I had done' regrets after the funeral? Therefore, in collaboration with Hatao Funeral Home, we conducted a survey targeting 241 men and women nationwide who, in a preliminary survey, responded that they had 'experience serving as a chief mourner or conducting a funeral' regarding 'Funeral Experiences and 'Things I Wish I Had Done' Regrets.'

*When quoting the content of this press release, please comply with the following: - State that the source is 'a survey by NEXER Co., Ltd. and Hatao Funeral Home.' - Provide a link to Hatao Funeral Home (https://hataosougisha.com/).

'Survey on Funeral Experiences and 'Things I Wish I Had Done' Regrets' Survey Outline Survey Method: Internet questionnaire Survey Period: April 24, 2026 – May 6, 2026 Target Respondents: Men and women nationwide who, in a preliminary survey, responded that they had 'experience serving as a chief mourner or conducting a funeral.' Valid Responses: 241 samples Questions: - Question 1: When arranging a funeral, did you make any preparations in advance? - Question 2: What kind of preparations did you make? (Multiple answers allowed) - Question 3: Did you experience any difficulties or hardships in arranging or conducting the funeral? - Question 4: What were those points? - Question 5: After the funeral, did you have any regrets about 'things you wish you had done'? - Question 6: What were those things? - Question 7: If you were to give advice to someone who will be facing a funeral, what would you tell them?

*As a general rule, figures are rounded to the second decimal place, so the total may not always be 100%.

69.7% responded that they 'had not' made prior preparations when arranging a funeral.

First, we asked if they had made any preparations in advance when arranging a funeral. The results showed that 30.3% 'had' and 69.7% 'had not.' It is clear that approximately 70% of people faced a funeral without prior preparation. Furthermore, we asked those who responded that they 'had' made prior preparations when arranging a funeral what kind of preparations they had made. The most common response was 'gathering information on funeral homes' at 58.9%. This was followed by 'researching estimated costs' at 46.6%, and 'discussing with family' and 'considering the scope of attendees' both at 35.6%. It is clear that many of those who prepared in advance gathered information on funeral homes and confirmed costs. Preparations such as discussing with family and considering the scope of attendees, which involve concretely organizing the details of the funeral, were also observed.

32.0% responded that they 'had experienced difficulties' in arranging or conducting a funeral.

Next, we asked if they had experienced any difficulties or hardships in arranging or conducting a funeral. The results showed that 32.0% 'had' and 68.0% 'had not.' It is clear that approximately one in three people experienced some kind of difficulty during the funeral arrangements or proceedings. Furthermore, we asked those who responded that they 'had experienced difficulties or hardships' in arranging or conducting a funeral what those difficulties were. What were those points? - It was all new to me, and I didn't know where to start. (Female, 40s) - The funeral costs were too high, and it was difficult to raise the money. (Female, 30s) - I didn't know which funeral home was good. I didn't understand the whole process. (Female, 50s) - Even with prior learning, it was simply very hectic and busy. (Male, 50s) - Many people didn't know their relationship with the deceased, so greetings were difficult. (Female, 40s) - Arranging the funeral home was difficult. (Male, 30s) - How much information should I share? (Female, 50s) From the responses received, a common sentiment was confusion, such as 'it was my first time, and I didn't know where to begin.' The points of concern varied widely, including choosing a funeral home, understanding the overall flow, financial aspects, and the scope of contacting attendees. As many decisions need to be made in a short period, the burden can be significant without prior knowledge.

14.5% experienced regrets of 'things I wish I had done' after the funeral.

Next, we asked if they had any regrets about 'things they wish they had done' after the funeral. The results showed that 14.5% 'had' and 85.5% 'had not.' Although the percentage is not large, it is clear that a certain number of people harbor some regrets.