[7th Reprint] 'My Most Useful Ending Note'. Nearly 80% feel 'parents' aging' during home visits, but over half can't discuss 'what-ifs' together. An ending note is helpful for such families!
Shufunotomo Co., Ltd. announced the 7th reprint of 'My Most Useful Ending Note'. A related survey revealed that while 81% of children notice their parents aging, 94% have never given their parents an ending note due to hesitation.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 13, 2026 at 22:00
- 🔍 Collected: April 13, 2026 at 16:35
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 19, 2026 at 20:32 (147h 56m after Collected)
Shufunotomo Co., Ltd. has issued a 7th reprint of 'My Most Useful Ending Note: Useful from Today, No Forgetting to Write' supervised by Shizue Yamada (https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/4074619652) due to strong sales.
Between January and February of this year, Shufunotomo conducted a survey on 'aging of parents felt during home visits', receiving responses from 189 men and women aged 20 to 65. The results revealed the current situation where many children feel their 'parents' aging' when visiting home and harbor anxiety about the future, yet are unable to initiate concrete preparations. We are publishing the results of this survey to coincide with the decision for the 7th reprint.
[Survey Overview]
Content: Survey on 'aging of parents felt during home visits'
Survey Period: Friday, January 30 to Friday, February 13, 2026 (14 days total)
Survey Method: Members of Shufunotomo's member community '@Shufu no Tomo'
Number of Respondents: 189 men and women aged 20 to 65 (168 women, 21 men)
[Summary]
- 81% felt that 'parents have grown older' when visiting home. The most common situations where this was felt were 'physical changes' (walking speed, stairs, poor hearing, etc.).
- 77% believe it is necessary to organize their parents' information, but only 17% are actually discussing and preparing concretely.
- 94% of people have never given an ending note to their parents. 40% answered that it is 'because it's hard to hand over'.
■ About 80% realize their parents' decline. The #1 sign of decline is 'physical changes', followed by 'cognitive changes'.
Q1: In your daily life or when visiting home, are there moments when you suddenly feel, 'My parents have grown older' or 'I'm a bit worried about their future life and health'?
Responses: 'Yes' (81%), 'No' (19%).
Q1-1: For those who answered 'Yes' in the previous question, in what specific situations did you feel that way? (Multiple answers allowed)
The results were 'physical changes' (44%), followed by 'cognitive changes' (26%). Anxiety stems not only from visible physical decline but also from feelings of incongruity in communication.
■ About 80% answer they 'need to grasp parents' information' in case of emergency, but only about 20% are taking action.
Q2: Seeing such changes in your parents, did you think, 'It's about time I grasp my parents' information (health condition, medications, assets, friendships, etc.), or I might be in trouble in case of an emergency'?
Responses: 'Thought so' (77%), 'Did not think so' (23%).
Q3: Have you ever talked to your parents about 'end-of-life planning' or 'ending notes'?
Only 17% 'have discussed it concretely and are already preparing', while 55% answered, 'I want to talk about it, but I can't quite bring it up'. Free responses included opinions like, 'My parents are doing it themselves, so there was no need to talk'.
Q4: Have you ever given an ending note to your parents?
'No' (94%), 'Yes' (6%). Less than 10% have given one.
Q4-1: For those who answered 'Yes' to the previous question, what prompted you to give it?
More than half of those who had given one answered, 'Because I was concerned about my parents' health and wanted to prepare for an emergency'.
Q4-2: For those who answered 'No' to Q4, please tell us why.
The most common reason was 'because it's hard to hand over' at about 40%, followed by 'because I think they'll think it's unnecessary yet' (23%) and 'because I don't know how to create an ending note' (15%). Free responses included opinions like, 'I don't know where to get one' and 'I don't know when I should start preparing for them'.
■ The most 'troublesome' thing after a parent passes away is physical clearing like 'clearing out the parents' home'. About 20% cite complex procedures like 'inheritance procedures'.
Q5: What would be troublesome if your parents passed away? (Multiple answers allowed)
The top answer was 'clearing out the parents' home' (33%), followed by 'inheritance procedures' (18%), 'funerals' (14%), and 'digital procedures' (14%), revealing the acute anxieties of the children's generation.
[7th Reprint!!] You won't be in trouble if you have this one book! You can write down all the information that 'will cause trouble for your family and yourself if not written down' in 'My Most Useful Ending Note'
Between January and February of this year, Shufunotomo conducted a survey on 'aging of parents felt during home visits', receiving responses from 189 men and women aged 20 to 65. The results revealed the current situation where many children feel their 'parents' aging' when visiting home and harbor anxiety about the future, yet are unable to initiate concrete preparations. We are publishing the results of this survey to coincide with the decision for the 7th reprint.
[Survey Overview]
Content: Survey on 'aging of parents felt during home visits'
Survey Period: Friday, January 30 to Friday, February 13, 2026 (14 days total)
Survey Method: Members of Shufunotomo's member community '@Shufu no Tomo'
Number of Respondents: 189 men and women aged 20 to 65 (168 women, 21 men)
[Summary]
- 81% felt that 'parents have grown older' when visiting home. The most common situations where this was felt were 'physical changes' (walking speed, stairs, poor hearing, etc.).
- 77% believe it is necessary to organize their parents' information, but only 17% are actually discussing and preparing concretely.
- 94% of people have never given an ending note to their parents. 40% answered that it is 'because it's hard to hand over'.
■ About 80% realize their parents' decline. The #1 sign of decline is 'physical changes', followed by 'cognitive changes'.
Q1: In your daily life or when visiting home, are there moments when you suddenly feel, 'My parents have grown older' or 'I'm a bit worried about their future life and health'?
Responses: 'Yes' (81%), 'No' (19%).
Q1-1: For those who answered 'Yes' in the previous question, in what specific situations did you feel that way? (Multiple answers allowed)
The results were 'physical changes' (44%), followed by 'cognitive changes' (26%). Anxiety stems not only from visible physical decline but also from feelings of incongruity in communication.
■ About 80% answer they 'need to grasp parents' information' in case of emergency, but only about 20% are taking action.
Q2: Seeing such changes in your parents, did you think, 'It's about time I grasp my parents' information (health condition, medications, assets, friendships, etc.), or I might be in trouble in case of an emergency'?
Responses: 'Thought so' (77%), 'Did not think so' (23%).
Q3: Have you ever talked to your parents about 'end-of-life planning' or 'ending notes'?
Only 17% 'have discussed it concretely and are already preparing', while 55% answered, 'I want to talk about it, but I can't quite bring it up'. Free responses included opinions like, 'My parents are doing it themselves, so there was no need to talk'.
Q4: Have you ever given an ending note to your parents?
'No' (94%), 'Yes' (6%). Less than 10% have given one.
Q4-1: For those who answered 'Yes' to the previous question, what prompted you to give it?
More than half of those who had given one answered, 'Because I was concerned about my parents' health and wanted to prepare for an emergency'.
Q4-2: For those who answered 'No' to Q4, please tell us why.
The most common reason was 'because it's hard to hand over' at about 40%, followed by 'because I think they'll think it's unnecessary yet' (23%) and 'because I don't know how to create an ending note' (15%). Free responses included opinions like, 'I don't know where to get one' and 'I don't know when I should start preparing for them'.
■ The most 'troublesome' thing after a parent passes away is physical clearing like 'clearing out the parents' home'. About 20% cite complex procedures like 'inheritance procedures'.
Q5: What would be troublesome if your parents passed away? (Multiple answers allowed)
The top answer was 'clearing out the parents' home' (33%), followed by 'inheritance procedures' (18%), 'funerals' (14%), and 'digital procedures' (14%), revealing the acute anxieties of the children's generation.
[7th Reprint!!] You won't be in trouble if you have this one book! You can write down all the information that 'will cause trouble for your family and yourself if not written down' in 'My Most Useful Ending Note'