September 3rd Designated as "Mr. Bear's Day" - "Wooden Bear Memorial Service" Held in Kawa-less Chiba Prefecture's Futtsu City to Commemorate Wooden Bears and Return Them to the Forest

From last year to this year, there have been numerous reports of bear sightings and human injuries across the country, making the distance between humans and wild animals a significant social issue.

Bear damage is a serious problem that affects human lives and livelihoods. Meanwhile, many households still have wooden bears, once popular as souvenirs or decorations, stored in their tokonoma or closets. Some people struggle with how to dispose of them, feeling it's disrespectful to throw them away or unsure of the proper procedure.

In response, Kajiyahonten Co., Ltd. (Representative Director: Kiyotaka Hirano), a funeral service company in Futtsu City, Chiba Prefecture, has designated September 3rd as "Mr. Bear's Day" and will hold a unique memorial service specifically for wooden bears on September 3, 2026 (Thu).

Key Points of This Release

- A project to consider "Humans and Nature" and "How to Interact with Things" through wooden bears amidst ongoing reports of bear sightings and damage.

- A rare initiative nationwide to commemorate wooden bears stored at home and return them to the forest after being chipped.

- A regional revitalization event that encourages visits to Futtsu City, Chiba Prefecture, with acceptance only by hand-delivery, not by mail.

Considering "Humans and Nature" and "How to Interact with Things" through Wooden Bears Amidst Continued Reports of Bear Sightings and Damage

Bear damage is a serious issue impacting our lives. On the other hand, bears are also beings that live in the forest. While acknowledging the reality of the damage, we are challenged to consider what kind of distance humans and nature should maintain and how they should coexist.

As a funeral service company, Kajiyahonten has always dealt with "farewells." In this wooden bear memorial service, we will commemorate the wooden bears that have watched over families' lives for a long time with gratitude and return them to the forest as beings born from wood.

The slogan is: "Mr. Bear, please return to the forest." We hope this will be an opportunity to consider the distance between humans and nature, and how to interact with cherished items, through wooden bears.

Background of the "Wooden Bear Memorial Service" Event

"Can wooden bears be commemorated?" Voices from the April Doll Memorial Service

The initiative began with the doll memorial service held on April 19, 2026 (Sun). Amidst over 800 dolls and stuffed animals gathered, several inquiries were received asking, "Can wooden bears also be commemorated?"

Wooden bears, once cherished as memories of Showa-era homes or travels, are now often left forgotten in family homes or closets. Many people struggle, feeling it's disrespectful to discard them or finding it difficult to do so.

In response to these voices, Kajiyahonten named September 3rd as "Mr. Bear's Day" (903 = "Ku-ma-san") and planned a memorial service specifically for wooden bears.

Scenes from the Second Doll Memorial Service

An Event to Attract Tourists to Futtsu City, Chiba Prefecture

"Mr. Bears" Gather from Across the Country in Chiba, a "Bear-Free Prefecture"

Chiba Prefecture is said to have no wild bears. In Futtsu City, within this "bear-free Chiba," we propose a new way of letting go by accepting, commemorating, and returning wooden bears from homes across the country to the forest.

Initiatives to Promote Visits to Futtsu City

This memorial service requires participants to bring their wooden bears to the venue in person, not by mail. This act of bringing a wooden bear will serve as an opportunity to experience Futtsu's sea, mountains, cuisine, and history before and after the commemoration. We aim to create a new reason to visit Futtsu as a "journey to bid farewell to cherished items."

The Slogan is "Mr. Bear, please return to the forest." After the service, they will be chipped and returned to the forest.

The brought wooden bears will be respectfully farewelled at the memorial service. Afterward, the wooden bears will be chipped and planned to be returned to the forest.

This is not merely disposal or collection. It is a new way of letting go, expressing gratitude as we bid farewell to wooden bears that have been cherished in homes for a long time, and returning them to nature.

While acknowledging the seriousness of bear damage, we want to create an opportunity to consider the distance between humans and nature, gratitude for objects, and how to let go of things and memories. This is the sentiment behind this memorial service.

"Wooden Bear Memorial Service" Event Details

Name

"Mr. Bear, Return to the Forest"

Wooden Bear Memorial Service

Date and Time

September 3, 2026 (Thu)

Ceremony begins at 11:00 AM

Venue

Wasou Kukan Kajiyahonten

552-1 Futtsu, Futtsu City, Chiba Prefecture

https://kajiyahonten.com/

Memorial Fee

500 yen per bear

Organizer

Kajiyahonten Co., Ltd.

"Wooden Bear" Acceptance Details

[Reception Period]

July 3, 2026 (Fri) - September 2, 2026 (Wed) 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM

[Acceptable Bears]

Purpose: To chip and return to the forest after commemoration.

Only wooden bear figurines will be accepted. *Ceramic, plastic, or fabric bears are not eligible.

*Maximum size: Sum of three sides up to 300 cm.

[Reception Fee (Memorial Fee)]

500 yen per bear

[Reception Method]

Please bring directly to our hall. (No mail acceptance).

*Bringing to the hall is a condition of acceptance.

Please understand that we cannot accept mail.

We accept items continuously, but please contact us before visiting.

(TEL: 0439-87-4911)

Kajiyahonten Co., Ltd. Representative Comment

Kiyota Hirano, Representative Director, Kajiyahonten Co., Ltd.

At the doll memorial service in April, more people than we imagined brought their cherished dolls. Among them, we received many requests asking, "Can wooden bears be commemorated?" I believe wooden bears are not just ornaments but entities that have watched over the memories of a household. Many people likely find it difficult to discard them when they are found during the process of downsizing or tidying up their family homes.

In recent years, with the increasing frequency of bear sightings and damage, and the questioning of the distance between humans and nature, we felt it was the right time to hold a memorial service to bid farewell to wooden bears cherished in homes with gratitude and return them to the forest.

Through this memorial service, we hope to create an opportunity for people to think about how to organize their belongings in a way that feels right for them, and we would be delighted if September 3rd becomes "Mr. Bear's Day" when wooden bears from across the country gather in Futtsu.

Kiyota Hirano, Representative, Kajiyahonten Co., Ltd.

Organizer: Kajiyahonten Co., Ltd. Company Profile

Funeral Hall "Wasou Kukan Kajiyahonten"

Kajiyahonten is a funeral service company founded in Meiji 35 (1902). The funeral hall "Wasou Kukan Kajiyahonten," opened in 2017, is based on the concept of a "separate residence where families gather" and features a rare Japanese modern style. It has garnered attention within and outside the industry as a funeral hall with meticulous attention to detail, from interior design to even a single stick of incense. In 2026, it was also used as a filming location for the TBS drama stream "Tsui no Hito."

We also propose personalized end-of-life planning options, such as "Message Urns" with original decorations, designer coffins, an "Entombment Cafe" where one can experience entering a couple's coffin, and "Luxury Coffins" with carefully selected high-quality materials and designs, allowing individuals to choose funeral items and entrust their wishes.

https://kajiyahonten.com/

Nation's First "Entombment Cafe" and Proposal of Luxury Coffins