Addressing the 2040 Problem in the Funeral Industry: Practical Solutions with AI, DX, and M&A - Release of the Reinforced and Revised Version 3.0 of the 2040 Funeral and Life-Ending Industry

2040 Funeral and Life-Ending Industry Ver3.0 Reinforced and Revised Version: Improving Labor Productivity with AI and Industry Consolidation through M&A

AgeRobotics Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, Representative Director: Kazuya Shiraishi, hereinafter "AgeRobotics") announces the publication of a practical book for the funeral and life-ending industry titled "2040 Funeral and Life-Ending Industry Ver3.0 Reinforced and Revised Version: Improving Labor Productivity with AI and Industry Consolidation through M&A."

This book systematizes management strategies necessary for the sustainable growth of funeral homes, considering the progression of an aging and multiple death society, a decrease in the labor population, a decline in funeral unit prices, price transparency through portal sites, and the acceleration of industry consolidation through M&A by listed companies and PE funds. It is organized into a single volume for funeral home owners, executives, field leaders, system managers, and HR managers, covering AI, DX, recruitment, M&A, overseas cases, and checklists.

Background of Publication: The Impending Issues of "Increase in Cases, Labor Shortage, Decline in Unit Prices, and Industry Consolidation" in the Funeral Industry

Japan is facing a situation where the aging and multiple death society is progressing towards 2040, with an increase in the number of funerals and a decrease in the labor population occurring simultaneously. In the field, many tasks such as night response, estimation creation, ordering, memorial photo creation, billing and payment management, and after-sales service still depend on manpower, and the lack of personnel is a constraint on management.

On the other hand, with the spread of family funerals, one-day funerals, and direct funerals, the generalization of price comparison through the internet, and the entry of companies from other industries, the conventional revenue model that depends on "funeral unit price × number of cases" is being forced to change. Furthermore, in recent years, M&A by listed companies, mutual aid association companies, altar and comprehensive business operators, and PE funds has accelerated, and even regional small and medium-sized funeral homes can no longer be unaffected by the wave of industry consolidation.

This book presents a practical roadmap for funeral homes to evolve not just into mere executors but into "comprehensive life-ending service businesses" that also include end-of-life planning, inheritance, real estate, estate sorting, and introduction to nursing homes.

Main Features of the Book

A Vision for the 2040 Funeral and Life-Ending Industry

1. Implementing AI, DX, and AX in Funeral Business Practices

In addition to digitizing paper, telephone, and fax-centered operations, workflow automation and the use of generative AI and AI agents are organized as the three-layer funeral DX model. Points directly related to improving labor productivity in the field, such as Smart Funerals, Smart Call 24 (under development and planned for provision), and Smart Memorial Photos, are explained.

2. Systematizing the Latest Trends in Industry Consolidation M&A

Major M&A cases such as Sanwa Holdings, Kizuna Holdings, Kokoro Net, Tier, Kinpo Hall, and NIC (Japan Enterprise Growth Investment) are organized. For businesses considering divestment and acquisition, evaluation axes, PMI, and practical points for improving corporate value are explained.

3. Proposing the "Comprehensive Service Business" of Funeral Homes and Maximizing Customer LTV

The entire lifecycle, including post-funeral memorial services, altars and graves, inheritance, real estate sales, estate sorting, and introduction to elderly homes, is captured, and a revenue model for funeral homes to expand customer touchpoints is presented.

4. Reconstructing Human Resource Strategies in the Era of Difficult Recruitment

Considering the increase in the effective job offer ratio, labor shortage, retention rate, and career path design in the funeral industry, the way of thinking about human resource introduction and recruitment strategies, including Smart Funeral Jobs, is organized. Perspectives that HR managers can use in practice are included.

5. Including Overseas Editions, Checklists, and Glossaries

The life-ending industries of the United States, Taiwan, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore are overviewed, and implications for the Japanese market are organized. A self-diagnosis checklist, glossary, and a list of sources and reference data are planned to be included at the end.

Target Readers

Owners, directors, and business managers of funeral homes, mutual aid associations, and life-ending related companies

Funeral department managers, field leaders, and funeral directors

DX promotion staff, system managers, and business improvement staff

HR managers, recruitment staff, and education and retention support staff

Funeral homes, related businesses, financial institutions, professionals, and investors considering M&A and business succession

Author's Comments

"The funeral industry is simultaneously facing multiple structural changes, including an increase in the number of deaths, a shortage of personnel, a decline in unit prices, price transparency, and industry consolidation through M&A. On the other hand, if AI and DX are properly utilized, time can be returned to grief care and proposal work, which people should originally focus on, and funeral homes can evolve into comprehensive life-ending service businesses in the region. We hope that this book will be of some help in making realistic management decisions towards 2040 for all funeral home owners."

AgeRobotics Co., Ltd. Authors

Book Overview

Book

2040 Funeral and Life-Ending Industry Ver3.0 Reinforced and Revised Version

Subtitle

Improving Labor Productivity with AI and Industry Consolidation through M&A

Authors

Kazuya Shiraishi, Yohei Sato, Shota Azuma, Natsumi Saito

Publication Date

June 15, 2026

Target Readers

Funeral home owners, funeral department managers, system managers, HR managers, and related businesses

Main Contents

Industry trends, funeral DX/AX, smart funerals, recruitment and human resource strategies, M&A, overseas markets, checklists, and glossaries

Sales and Distribution Methods

https://amzn.asia/d/0ikHy0YX

Reader Benefits and Related Projects

AgeRobotics continuously conducts online seminars, individual consultations, on-site visits and experience events, and industry conferences and exhibitions for funeral industry owners, executives, and field leaders, focusing on funeral DX/AX, M&A, recruitment, human resource strategies, overseas cases, and subsidy information.

Official Website of Smart Funerals: https://smartsougi.jp

Official Website of Smart Funeral Jobs: https://smartsougi-job.jp/

About AgeRobotics Co., Ltd.

AgeRobotics Co., Ltd. is expanding DX/AX support starting from the funeral domain with the theme of "Redesigning the Super-Aged Society." With the cloud-based funeral management system "Smart Funerals" as its core, it combines AI memorial photos, AI call centers, specialized job placement and recruitment for the funeral industry, and M&A and business succession support to enhance the productivity and comprehensive service business transformation of funeral homes.

Company Name: AgeRobotics Co., Ltd.

Representative: Representative Director and CEO Kazuya Shiraishi

Established: December 11, 2025

Headquarters:

Headquarters

6-5 Shibuya WayP 9th Floor, 1-6-5 Kaminan, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo

Fukuoka Branch

4th Floor, Recruit Tenjin Building, 1-1-3 Maizuru, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture

Business Content:

Software development and provision business

Human resources platform business

Consulting business

AgeRobotics Official Website: https://agerobotics.jp/