Increasing Ocean Funerals, Considering Post-Funeral Rites

Houseboat Club Co., Ltd. (Head Office: Koto-ku, Tokyo, President: Satoshi Mizuno), which operates the ocean funeral service "Blue Ocean Ceremony," will hold "Sea Obon Memorial Service ~Memorial Service for the Era Without Graves~" on August 15, 2026 (Sat) as a special Obon event in Haneda waters of Tokyo Bay.

For this event, messages to the deceased will be collected from people nationwide, and staff will handwrite each message. These will be entrusted to an extra-large eco-wreath, approximately 1 meter in diameter, for a sea memorial service for loved ones who have returned to the sea.

On the day, media boarding slots will also be available for TV, newspapers, and web media to cover and disseminate new social themes such as "Obon in the Era Without Graves" and "Post-Ocean Funeral Rites."

Ocean funerals are increasing, but what about post-funeral rites?

In recent years, ocean funerals have been rapidly spreading.

According to the Japan Ocean Funeral Association, the number of ocean funerals performed in fiscal year 2025 is projected to be 6,690, an increase of approximately 1.7 times from 3,896 in the previous year.

The background to this includes changes in Japan's social structure itself, such as:

・Increase in grave closures

・Lack of successors

・Reducing the burden on the child generation

・Distance between residence and grave

Traditionally, memorial rites have been passed down centered around "family" and "graves."

However, the form of memorial rites is now beginning to shift from "things to be protected" to "things to be chosen by oneself."

Ocean funerals are also beginning to be widely accepted not as a special form of memorial rite, but as one of the "options for memorial rites that can be continued without strain."

On the other hand, many who choose ocean funerals express concerns such as, "What should we do for Obon if we don't have a grave?" and "We want opportunities to remember our loved ones even after the scattering."

While ocean funerals are spreading, the way post-funeral rites should be conducted is still not fully discussed. Therefore, we have focused on the traditional Japanese culture of Obon and planned the "Sea Obon Memorial Service."

We will receive and deliver thoughts to the deceased from across the country to the sea.

The "Sea Obon Memorial Service" is a memorial service where messages to the deceased are collected from everyone who has seen off their loved ones through ocean funerals and delivered to the sea from Tokyo Bay.

The company that performed the ocean funeral does not matter. Those who used Blue Ocean Ceremony, as well as those who had ocean funerals with other companies, can participate for free.

Messages received will be carefully handwritten and transcribed by Blue Ocean Ceremony staff, and attached to an extra-large eco-wreath approximately 1 meter in diameter.

The completed wreath will be transported to Haneda waters in Tokyo Bay, where a sea memorial service will be held with flower offerings and a moment of silence.

We will responsibly deliver individual thoughts such as "Thank you," "I'm doing well, so don't worry," "Always watch over me," and "I love you" to the sea.

We are accepting messages to the deceased.

We are currently accepting messages to be delivered to the sea at the "Sea Obon Memorial Service."

The messages received will be handwritten and transcribed by staff, and delivered to the sea at the memorial service on the day.

▼Message Submission Form for the Deceased

https://forms.gle/FNDinuzLrqjmy7yE8 (Google Forms)

*Submission Deadline: August 9, 2026 (Sun) 23:59

Event Overview

[Name]

Sea Obon Memorial Service ~Memorial Service for the Era Without Graves~

[Date and Time]

August 15, 2026 (Sat) 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM

[Location]

Haneda Waters, Tokyo Bay

[Content]

・Collection of messages to the deceased

・Handwritten transcription by staff

・Creation of an extra-large eco-wreath

・Sea memorial service

・Flower offering, moment of silence

・Onboard coverage for media representatives

[Participation Eligibility]

Those who have seen off loved ones through ocean funerals (company of performance does not matter)

[Participation Fee]

Free

About Blue Ocean Ceremony

Blue Ocean Ceremony is an ocean funeral service operated by Houseboat Club Co., Ltd.

Since its establishment in 2007, it has a cumulative track record of over 7,000 services and covers sea areas nationwide, from Hokkaido to Okinawa, including Tokyo Bay and Yokohama.

As a company providing ocean funeral services, we aim to propose a culture where people can continue to think of their loved ones not only at the moment of farewell but also beyond.

To Media Representatives

On the day, we will provide boarding slots for coverage.

[Coverage Points]

・Messages to the deceased collected from across the country

・Sea memorial service with an extra-large eco-wreath approximately 1 meter in diameter

・New Obon culture in the "era without graves"

・New social theme of post-ocean funeral rites

・Interviews with the representative director and staff

For those interested in covering the spread of ocean funerals, changes in memorial rites, and Obon culture in the era without graves, please contact us below.

[Contact Information]

Houseboat Club Co., Ltd.

Public Relations Department

Mail: [email protected] TEL: 03-6659-9801 URL: https://blueoceanceremony.jp/

Company Profile

Company Name: Houseboat Club Co., Ltd. Representative: Satoshi Mizuno, President Location: Lead Sea Sumiyoshi Building 3F, 1-16-13 Sumiyoshi, Koto-ku, Tokyo Business Activities: Operation of the ocean funeral service "Blue Ocean Ceremony" URL: https://blueoceanceremony.jp/