\Recycled Candles x Disability Art/ Ethical Product from Funeral Company Collaborates with Popular Artist Yu Okuyama!

Tear Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture, President: Tokuhisa Tomiyasu), which operates funeral services and franchise businesses mainly in Nagoya City and in the Hokkaido, Kanto, Chubu, and Kansai areas, is focusing on resource loss generated at funeral sites. They are developing "Rilow Candle®," which reuses candles used in wakes and funerals, adding dyes and fragrances to recreate them as canned candles.

In addition to the two types of packages currently available, "Kujira-Oh" will be newly released on June 30 (Tue.). Including "Kujira-Oh," all "Rilow Candle®" package designs are created by artists with disabilities, with a portion of sales returned to the creators. The aim is to achieve both resource circulation and support for economic independence.

Yu Okuyama, an artist residing in Komaki City, has her work "Kujira-Oh" adopted for the new product.

"Kujira-Oh," a representative work by artist Yu Okuyama, who resides in Komaki City, Aichi Prefecture, has been adopted for the new "Rilow Candle®" product package. It depicts a majestic whale in rich colors.

Ms. Okuyama, the artist, was born in 1999. Despite having autism and severe intellectual disabilities, she has shown a strong interest in drawing animals since childhood and has cultivated her unique worldview.

Her works, depicted with vivid colors and powerful expressions, are highly acclaimed, and she has won numerous awards at exhibitions related to Art Brut. She currently has contracts with multiple companies, and her works are being commercialized into products such as merchandise and art canvases.

In 2026, she was certified and appointed as the first "Hometown Ambassador" for Komaki City.

New package "Kujira-Oh" released on June 30

【Major Career Highlights of Yu Okuyama】

•2020 Received the Aichi Prefecture Association for the Support of the Lives of Children and Adults with Intellectual Disabilities Director's Award at the Komaki Art Brut Exhibition

•2021 Received the Komaki Mayor's Award at the Komaki Art Brut Exhibition

•2022 Selected for the Corporate Choice Novelty Award at the Aichi Art Brut Exhibition

•2022 Signed an art employment contract with Chubu Nikka Service Co., Ltd.

•2023 Received the Excellence Award at the Aichi Art Brut Exhibition / Received the Komaki Mayor's Award at the Fureai Art Exhibition

•2024 Selected for the Kakamigahara City Art Exhibition / Received the JIC Central Co., Ltd. President's Award at the Fureai Art Exhibition

•2026 Certified and appointed as the first "Hometown Ambassador" for Komaki City

Yu Okuyama

"Rilow Candle®" Gives New Value to Discarded Candles

Our company is engaged in various initiatives based on five basic policies regarding sustainability, aiming to realize a society where all living things can live happily in mutual respect. As part of this effort, we developed "Rilow Candle®," an upcycled candle made from reused candles from wakes and funerals, featuring collaboration packaging with "Art Brut (disability art)."

Through connecting Art Brut with companies, we have developed and sold products by two artists, "yuiko" and "CHABI," with the introduction of "Sketchglam," which supports the participation of people with disabilities in economic activities.

A portion of the sales of "Rilow Candle®" is returned to the artists themselves, supporting the continuation of their artistic activities and their economic independence. Additionally, a portion of the sales is donated to the "Ashinaga Tsudae Kai," which supports orphaned children. It is positioned not just as a recycled product, but as a socially contributing product that combines environment, welfare, and donations.

Three types of Rilow Candle designs. From left: Yu Okuyama's "Kujira-Oh," yuiko's "Colorful Giraffe," and CHABI's "Botanical Hummingbird."

<"Rilow Candle®" Sales Information>

・Online Shop

https://www.tear.co.jp/sustainability/upcycledcandle/

Tear Co., Ltd.

Head Office : 3-33-1 Kurokawa-Hon-dori, Kita-ku, Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture Representative : Tokuhisa Tomiyasu, President and Representative Director Established : July 1997 Capital : 1.892 billion yen (as of the end of March 2026) Listed Market : Tokyo Stock Exchange Standard, Nagoya Stock Exchange Premier Market Number of Employees : 991 (as of the end of March 2026) Business Description : General funeral services and reception of various memorial services After-follow-up based on相談 (consultation) from bereaved families after funeral services Operation of funeral halls through directly managed stores and franchises in Hokkaido, Chubu, Kanto, and Kansai Proposal for entry into the funeral business through franchising and provision of know-how Number of Halls : 225 halls (as of May 2026) Corporate Site : https://www.tear.co.jp/company/