[White Paper on Family Grave Issues 2026] 65.1% Do Not Want to Leave Grave Issues to Their Children: Survey of 300 People Aged 50 and Over Nationwide
Survey of 300 people aged 50 and over nationwide reveals the awareness of the parent generation regarding graves
AOMA Administrative Scrivener Office (Tokyo) conducted an internet survey on "family grave issues" targeting 300 men and women aged 50 and over nationwide.
As a result, 65.1% responded that they "do not want to leave grave issues to their children". On the other hand, 79.8% said they "do not know where to start", and **72.9% responded that it is "difficult to consult with a temple,"** highlighting a gap between awareness and action regarding grave issues.
Furthermore, when surveying the 149 respondents who have a spouse, 72.5% answered that they "have not discussed it sufficiently with their spouse", revealing that grave issues are not being adequately shared even within the family.
Key points of the survey results
■ 65.1% do not want to leave grave issues to their children
With 34.4% saying they "strongly feel so" and 30.7% saying they "somewhat feel so," it was found that about two out of three people in the parent generation do not want to burden their children with inheriting a grave and wish to resolve grave issues within their own generation.
■ About 80% (79.8%) do not know where to start
On the other hand, when combining those who said they "do not really know" and "do not know at all," the figure reached 79.8%, revealing the reality that many people are unable to take the first step.
■ 72.9% find it difficult to consult with a temple
72.9% of respondents answered that it is "somewhat difficult to consult" or "very difficult to consult."
This suggests that while people think of temples as a place to consult about graves, there is a high psychological hurdle to actually doing so.
■ 72.5% of those with a spouse have not discussed it sufficiently with their partner
When surveying the 149 respondents who have a spouse, 72.5% answered that they "have not discussed it much" or "have not discussed it at all."
While grave issues are an important topic concerning the family's future, it has become clear that they are not being sufficiently discussed even between spouses.
Administrative Scrivener's Comment
In this survey, many people indicated that they
do not want to leave a burden to their children
do not know where to start
find it difficult to consult with a temple
Even between spouses, there is not enough discussion
It has become clear that this is the situation.
The longer grave issues are put off, the more options may narrow. It is important to discuss this with your family while you are still healthy and consult with professionals as needed.
Survey Overview
Survey Name: White Paper on Family Grave Issues 2026
Survey Period: June 2026
Survey Method: Internet survey
Survey Subjects: 300 men and women aged 50 and over nationwide
Number of Valid Responses: 300 (of which 218 are grave owners)
Survey Conducted By: AOMA Administrative Scrivener Office
Survey Cooperation: Freeasy (iBRIDGE Corporation)
■ Regarding this survey data
When citing or reprinting the results of this survey, please clearly state the source as
'White Paper on Family Grave Issues 2026 (Survey by AOMA Administrative Scrivener Office)'
.
Future Outlook
Based on the results of this survey, the AOMA Administrative Scrivener Office will continue to disseminate information regarding grave issues and end-of-life planning.
The 'White Paper on Family Grave Issues 2026' plans to release survey results for each theme sequentially in the future.
Inquiries
AOMA Administrative Scrivener Office