What Koekisha does

Koekisha (株式会社公益社) is a Japanese funeral services company founded in 1930 and operating as the core funeral subsidiary of SAN HOLDINGS (燦ホールディングス), a Tokyo Stock Exchange Prime Market-listed conglomerate. The company delivers end-to-end funeral services across the Kanto (Tokyo, Kanagawa, Chiba) and Kansai (Osaka, Hyogo, Nara) metropolitan areas, executing more than 10,000 funerals annually with a workforce of 279 Ministry-certified funeral directors (262 Level 1, 17 Level 2 as of January 2026). Its service portfolio spans multiple ceremony types (family funerals, general funerals, executive funerals, non-religious funerals, pre-funeral/生前葬, cremation-only, memorial gatherings), embalming and bathing services operated through company-owned centers in Tokyo and Osaka, and post-funeral offerings including Buddhist altar sales, cemetery referrals, and inheritance consultation.

The company's underlying asset base consists of an owned network of 70+ exclusive ceremony halls (公益社会館 and エンディングハウス), proprietary IP-protected products including the patented Fuwari four-side-open coffin and the patent/trademark-registered Veil family funeral space design, an IFSA-certified embalmer training school (フューネラルサイエンスカレッジ), and an in-house vehicle fleet for hearse, stretcher, and microbus transport. Approximately 50% of funeral clients utilize embalming services, supporting a vertically integrated service stack from hospital pickup through cemetery coordination.

Koekisha's business model combines episodic per-event funeral revenue with advance financial products (Prebio Club membership at ¥10,000 enrollment, Japan's first funeral pre-need trust contract "Sonae," and funeral insurance agency commissions). Pricing is non-standardized, varying by attendee count, venue, religious format, and region (Kanto versus Kansai), with published example totals ranging from ¥239K for cremation-only events to ~¥1.97M for large Kansai general funerals. Customer acquisition is driven by 24/7 phone dispatch, owned venue walk-ins, SEO-optimized location landing pages, television CM campaigns, event seminars, and Zoom-based online consultations. Post-funeral customer relationships are extended into Buddhist altar retail through same-group subsidiary Life Forward's 仏壇ギャラリー ユーアイ chain.

Name

Koekisha

Legal name

株式会社公益社

Website

https://koekisha.co.jp

Company type

Public

Founded year

1930

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Koekisha is a 1930-founded Japanese funeral services company operating 70+ owned ceremony halls across Kanto and Kansai, executing 10,000+ funerals annually for families through proprietary ceremony designs, in-house embalming, and post-funeral support under TSE Prime-listed parent SAN HOLDINGS.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Funeral Services

NAICS

Funeral Homes and Funeral Services (812210), Cemeteries and Crematories (812220), Trusts, Estates, and Agency Accounts (52592)

akta.pro primary industry

End-of-Life Planning & Hospice/Palliative Care Coordination (HLADALAL)

Keywords

• Funeral services
• Family funeral ceremonies
• Embalming services
• Buddhist altar sales
• Pre-need funeral planning

Headquarters

HQ city

Osaka

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Funeral Ceremony Services: Core revenue from conducting funeral ceremonies (family葬, general葬, cremation-only, one-day葬, etc.) including venue rental, ceremony direction, religious officiant coordination, and overall event management. Pricing varies by attendance scale, venue type, and religious format.
2. Embalming Services: Disinfection,防腐, restoration, and cosmetic treatment of remains. Approximately 50% of funeral clients utilize this service. Operated at company-owned embalming centers in Tokyo and Osaka.
3. Buddhist Altars, Tablets & Accessories: Sale and installation of Buddhist altars (金仏壇, 唐木仏壇, 家具調仏壇), mortuary tablets (位牌), and accessories. Offered through 仏壇ギャラリーユーアイ stores including Tenjinbashi flagship.
4. Funeral Goods (Coffins, Urns, Apparel): Sale of coffins (木棺, 布張棺, エコ棺, custom ふわり), bone urns (磁器, 深川製磁), and burial garments/装束.
5. Post-Funeral Support: Cemetery referrals, inheritance/probate consultation, memorial tablet services, memorial hall maintenance, and grief support services.
6. Transportation & Logistics: Hearse dispatch (寝台車, 霊柩車), microbus for funeral procession, and overseas遗体 transport services.
7. Insurance Agency: Funeral insurance products sold as agent. Life and non-life insurance offerings related to funeral expenses.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Koekisha provides end-to-end funeral services in Japan, including family funerals (家族葬), general funerals (一般葬), cremation-only ceremonies, embalming, and transportation. The company owns and operates 70+ ceremony halls across the Kanto (Tokyo, Kanagawa, Chiba) and Kansai (Osaka, Hyogo, Nara) regions, supported by company-operated embalming centers in Tokyo and Osaka. It also sells funeral goods (coffins, urns, altars, memorial photos), provides post-funeral support (Buddhist altars, cemetery referrals, inheritance consultation), and offers financial planning products including pre-need trusts and funeral insurance.

Product overview

Koekisha (公益社) is a comprehensive funeral services company offering an integrated portfolio of funeral-related products and services. The core offerings include multiple funeral service types (家族葬, 一般葬, 経営者葬, 偲ぶ会, 無宗教葬, 生前葬, 火葬式), embalming and bathing services (エンバーミング, 湯灌), and company-owned venues (公益社会館, エンディングハウス) across the Kanto and Kansai regions. The company differentiates through patented original products including the Veil（ヴェール）family funeral space design and ふわり coffin with openable sides. Supporting services include coffin/urn/vestments, memorial altars, memorial photos, flowers/offerings, catering, vehicle transportation, overseas repatriation, Buddhist altar sales through 佛壇ギャラリー ユーアイ, cemetery introductions, and inheritance consultation. Membership programs (プレコラーiopio), pre-need trust contracts (そなえ), and funeral insurance products provide financial planning options. The company also offers online consultation via Zoom, COVID-19 safety protocols, and remote attendance capabilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Veil（ヴェール）: A patented original family funeral space design where family members can surround the coffin and spend time together during the farewell ceremony.
• ふわり
• やすらい
• フューネラルサイエンスカレッジ

Products and services

• Family Funeral (家族葬) Family-centered funeral service where attendance is limited to family and relatives. Follows similar flow to general funerals but with smaller scale and reduced costs for food and hospitality. Includes company-owned ceremony hall, ceremony direction, vehicles, goods, offerings, return gifts, meals, and cremation.
• General Funeral (一般葬) Standard funeral service that includes family, relatives, and acquaintances. Serves as a social farewell to the deceased and marks the end of social relationships. Pricing examples shown at ¥817,000 (30 attendees, Kanto) and ¥1,190,000–¥1,970,000 (Kansai, depending on scale).
• Business Executive Funeral (経営者のお葬式) Funeral service designed for business owners, executives, and individuals with high social standing who have interacted with many people during their lives.
• Memorial Gathering (偲ぶ会) Memorial service held after a private family funeral (密葬), where friends and acquaintances gather to commemorate the deceased.
• Non-religious Funeral (無宗教葬/自由葬) Non-religious funeral format allowing flexible arrangements such as displaying personal items, playing favorite music, and commemorating the deceased without religious ceremonies.
• Pre-funeral (生前葬) Pre-arranged funeral service conducted while the individual is still alive, allowing direct expression of gratitude to guests.
• Cremation-only Funeral (火葬式) Simplified funeral service involving only cremation without wake or funeral ceremonies, typically ranging from ¥20–50万. Example pricing: ¥239,000 (Kanto, 5 attendees) and ¥279,000 (Kansai).
• Embalming (エンバーミング) Body preservation and restoration service using disinfection, anti-corrosion treatment, and cosmetics to restore the deceased's appearance. Allows extended viewing time and eliminates the need for dry ice. Approximately 50% of funeral clients use this service. Performed at company-operated IFSA-certified centers in Tokyo and Osaka.
• Yukan (湯灌) Bathing Ritual Traditional bathing ritual service where the deceased is washed with warm water. Modern alternative where family members historically performed this ceremony.
• Veil (ヴェール) Original Family Funeral Space Patent-registered original family funeral space design where family and guests surround the coffin to say goodbye together. Features memorial corners, photo displays, natural flower arrangements, and flexible seating layout.
• Fuwari (ふわり) Original Coffin Patent-registered original coffin with openable sides allowing closer visibility and easier farewell. Features cushioned interior approximately 10 times thicker than standard coffin padding. Reduces coffin width from ~85cm to ~70cm.
• Yasurai (やすらい) Coffin Bedding Specially designed coffin bedding approximately 10 times thicker than standard padding (60mm vs 6mm). Includes flower holder and storage pockets for memorial items.
• Altars (祭壇) Altar arrangements including fresh flower altars, white wood altars, original altars, and spatial design services. Available for Buddhist, Shinto, Christian, and non-religious ceremonies.
• Coffins, Urns, and Vestments (棺・骨壺・装粧) Complete range of coffins (wooden, cloth-covered, eco-friendly), urns (ceramic, porcelain, marble), and vestments including traditional silk options with hand-painted patterns.
• Memorial Portrait Photography (遺影写真) Memorial portrait photography service with various frame options (white, wood, ribbon styles) and flower arrangement decorations.
• Flower Offerings and Material Offerings (供花・供物) Flower offerings (籠花, modern style, potted plants) and material offerings (fruit jelly, fruit compote, fruits, canned goods, dry goods, sweets) for funeral services.
• Return Gifts (返礼品) Return gift items including soup/coffee sets, handkerchiefs/towels, sweets/tea sets, catalog gifts, and gourmet gifts for funeral attendees and condolence responses.
• Funeral Catering (通夜料理・精進落とし)

Quantifiable outcome

• 95% customer satisfaction rate
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ライフフォワード株式会社 (Life Forward Co., Ltd.)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSame-group company within San Holdings. Operates the 仏壇ギャラリーユーアイ (Buddhist altar gallery) chain. Joint use of customer personal information for after-funeral support services including Buddhist altars, cemetery referrals, and memorial services. Handles post-funeral support services.
• 株式会社家族葬のファミーユ (Famille Kazokusou Co., Ltd.)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSame-group company within San Holdings. Joint use of customer personal information for product/service information provision and event/ campaign notifications.
• 葬仙 (Sousen Co., Ltd.)minorOthersGroup company focused on Tottori and Shimane prefectures. Same San Holdings Group.
• タルイ (Tarui Co., Ltd.)minorOthersGroup company focused on Hyogo prefecture. Same San Holdings Group. Referenced for certain service areas where Koekisha halls are not available.
• IFSA — 日本遺体衛生保全協会 (International Funeral Science Association)coreTechnology or IntegrationIndustry association for body preservation (embalming). Koekisha is a member; its embalmers hold IFSA certification. Koekisha's フューネラルサイエンスカレッジ is an IFSA-certified embalmer training facility. IFSA sets industry standards and conducts licensing exams.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Urban Funeral Corp (株式会社アーバンフューネスコーポレーション): Funeral services operator with strong Kanto/Tokyo metro presence. Comparable to Koekisha's urban ceremony hall density and family funeral positioning; primarily serves different geographic sub-markets within Kanto.
• Nichiryoku Co., Ltd. (株式会社ニチリョク): Funeral services company with regional hall network. Comparable mid-market family funeral positioning and ceremony execution services; primarily serves markets outside Koekisha's Kanto/Kansai core.

Direct peers

• Heian Ray Service Co., Ltd. (平安レイサービス株式会社): Kansai-based funeral services company with ceremony hall network and full-service offerings. Comparable to Koekisha's Kansai operations including Buddhist ceremony execution and post-funeral support services.
• Memory Co., Ltd. (株式会社メモリード): Mid-sized funeral services operator with halls across multiple prefectures. Competes with Koekisha in family funeral segment and offers similar one-stop service model with embalming and after-funeral support.
• San Life Co., Ltd. (株式会社サン・ライフ): Funeral services company with owned ceremony halls in eastern Japan. Comparable operating model including pre-need planning, family funeral emphasis, and comprehensive service offering with regional focus.
• Kasho Co., Ltd. (株式会社花匠): Funeral services company with ceremony hall network concentrated in central Japan. Comparable service range including Buddhist altar sales, embalming, and post-funeral support; competes in mid-market family funeral pricing tier.
• Ceremore Co., Ltd. (株式会社セレモア): Funeral services company operating owned ceremony halls across Kanto region. Direct overlap with Koekisha's Tokyo/Kanagawa/Chiba footprint; comparable scale and family funeral positioning.
• Tear Corporation (ティア株式会社): Major listed Japanese funeral services chain operating owned ceremony halls nationwide. Direct competitor in family funeral format, mid-market pricing tier, and urban metro density — most directly comparable public peer for Koekisha's operating model.
• Bellco Co., Ltd. (株式会社ベルコ): Large Kansai-based funeral services company with strong ceremony hall network. Geographic overlap with Koekisha's Kansai footprint and similar service portfolio (funeral execution, Buddhist ceremonies, post-funeral support) make it a key regional direct competitor.
• After Co., Ltd. (株式会社アフト): Funeral planning and services operator with hall network and pre-need programs. Comparable direct-to-consumer positioning, family funeral focus, and advance planning membership models.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Koekisha