Approximately 45% Feel Anxious About 'Mourner's Address' on the Day of a Funeral; About 52% Found Help in Guidance on 'What to Do Next'

■Survey on Funeral Day Anxieties and Expectations for Staff

One of the most tense moments in life is the day of a funeral.

Confirming the schedule, attending to mourners, and navigating unfamiliar customs place a heavy burden of anxiety on the chief mourner and bereaved family, alongside their grief.

So, what specific aspects cause anxiety on the funeral day, and what kind of support do people expect from staff?

To find out, we conducted a joint survey with Hatao Funeral Home targeting 164 men and women nationwide who had previously indicated in a pre-survey that they had experience serving as a chief mourner or organizing a funeral. The survey focused on 'Expectations for Support and Service on the Funeral Day.'

*When citing the content of this press release, please adhere to the following:

- Clearly state that the source is 'a survey by NEXER Inc. and Hatao Funeral Home.'
- Include a link to Hatao Funeral Home (https://hataosougisha.com/).

Survey Overview: 'Survey on Expectations for Support and Service on the Funeral Day'

Survey Method: Internet-based questionnaire

Survey Period: May 20, 2026 – May 26, 2026

Target Respondents: Men and women nationwide who answered in a pre-survey that they had experience serving as a chief mourner or organizing a funeral.

Valid Responses: 164 samples

Survey Questions:

Q1: What caused you anxiety as a chief mourner or bereaved family member on the funeral day? (Multiple answers allowed)

Q2: What kind of on-the-day support do you expect from funeral home staff? (Multiple answers allowed)

Q3: Is there anything memorable about the staff's response on the funeral day?

Q4: Please tell us about the positive aspects.

Q5: Please tell us about any concerns.

Q6: What support or consideration did you find 'helpful' on the funeral day? (Multiple answers allowed)

Q7: If there is anything you wish had been done differently regarding support on the funeral day, please let us know.

*Note: Percentages are rounded to the first decimal place, so totals may not equal 100%.

■44.5% Felt Anxious About the 'Mourner's Address'

First, we asked about anxieties felt as a chief mourner or bereaved family member on the funeral day.

The most common response was 'Mourner's address' at 44.5%.

This was followed by 'Dealing with mourners' at 39.6%, 'Flow of the ceremony' at 28.7%, 'Reception and accounting' at 21.3%, and 'Coordination among relatives' at 20.7%.

Other responses included 'Whether things will proceed on time' at 12.2%, 'Incense offering and etiquette' at 10.4%, and 'Other' at 11.6%.

The high level of anxiety about the mourner's address highlights the immense pressure of being 'called upon to speak' in the unique setting of a funeral. Having to deliver a speech, something rarely experienced in daily life, while deep in grief, represents a significant mental burden.

Nearly 40% also cited anxiety about interacting with mourners, indicating that many people struggle with 'how to behave' in this context.

■56.7% Want Staff to Provide 'Guidance on the Ceremony Flow'

Next, we asked what kind of on-the-day support respondents wanted from funeral home staff.

The most requested support was 'Guidance on the ceremony flow' at 56.7%.

This was followed by 'Assistance with mourner relations' at 41.5%, 'Help with reception tasks' at 33.5%, 'Support for the mourner's address' at 32.3%, 'Handling sudden changes' at 30.5%, 'Guidance on incense offering and etiquette' at 28.0%, 'Checking in on relatives' at 22.0%, and 'Other' at 5.5%.

These results show that the feeling of 'not knowing what to do next' is the primary source of anxiety for chief mourners and families. In the unfamiliar environment of a funeral, simply knowing the 'next step' can provide significant peace of mind.

The high ranking of support for mourner relations and reception tasks also underscores the burden of having to attend to people other than oneself.

■88.4% Have a Positive Impression of Staff Response

We then asked about memorable aspects of the staff's response on the funeral day.

88.4% of respondents said they had a 'positive impression,' while only 11.6% reported having 'concerns.'

This clearly indicates that the majority of people evaluate staff response positively.

We also collected specific anecdotes, some of which are introduced below.

Please tell us about the positive aspects.

- They supported us in every possible way. (Female, 20s)
- There were many staff members, and they responded immediately when we had a problem. (Female, 30s)
- They explained the procedures in detail. (Female, 30s)
- A series of discreet and thoughtful actions. (Male, 40s)
- They provided support to the extent that we didn't need to worry about anything. (Male, 50s)
- I was overwhelmed by unfamiliar tasks and couldn't think clearly, but the person in charge provided discreet support, for which I was very grateful. (Female, 60s)

Please tell us about any concerns.

- There were some things that were hard to understand. (Male, 40s)
- Additional charges. (Male, 50s)
- They made a mistake with the accounting. (Male, 50s)
- The attention to detail was insufficient. (Male, 70s)
- There was a lack of sufficient explanation about the funeral proceedings. (Male, 80s)

Positive points included immediate response to problems, detailed explanations of procedures, and discreet support. On the other hand, concerns included unclear explanations, additional charges, accounting errors, and a lack of consideration or explanation regarding the proceedings.

Given that the funeral day is filled with unfamiliar tasks, the data suggests that meticulous staff support and clear explanations significantly contribute to the peace of mind of the bereaved family.

■52.4% Found Guidance on 'What to Do Next' Helpful

We asked what support or consideration respondents found 'helpful' on the funeral day.

'Guidance on what to do next' was the most common response at 52.4%.

This was followed by 'Help with mourner relations' (25.6%), 'Consideration for relatives' (25.6%), 'Calm and reassuring words' (25.6%), 'Told me when to give the mourner's address' (24.4%), 'Handled urgent consultations' (23.8%), 'Taught me detailed etiquette' (18.3%), and 'Other' (11.6%).

Additionally, we asked respondents to specify what they wished had been done differently regarding support on the funeral day.

If there is anything you wish had been done differently regarding support on the funeral day, please let us know.

- I wish they had provided the schedule for the day. (Male, 30s)
- I had no complaints as everything was taken care of, but I worry that a funeral hall with fewer staff might not be able to handle everything, especially with multiple urgent requests. (Female, 30s)
- It would have been helpful to have information about the surrounding area, like restaurants and shops. (Male, 50s)
- Prior explanation of additional charges. (Male, 50s)
- A schedule or program sheet would have made things clearer. (Male, 70s)

Comments indicated that having a daily schedule or program sheet would be helpful.

Also, prior explanation of additional charges.