Hasegawa's 'Tokyo Metropolitan Cemetery Application Seminar' Sees Great Success with 170 Attendees

Hasegawa Co., Ltd., a company engaged in the sale of Buddhist altars, tombstones, and indoor cemeteries, is currently hosting 'Basic Knowledge Seminars on Applying for Tokyo Metropolitan Cemeteries' to explain the overview and costs of these cemeteries before the annual public application period.

Publicly announced in late May each year, Tokyo Metropolitan Cemeteries are popular for their perceived reliability and affordability. However, misconceptions regarding eligibility and costs often lead to invalid applications or post-success regrets. Hasegawa organizes these seminars to provide a 'realistic' view from a professional perspective to help people make the 'right choice.' To date, 170 people have attended across seven locations.

Key 'Pitfalls' Discussed:

1. Misunderstanding 'Price': While annual maintenance fees are low, the cost of the grave plot itself can vary greatly. For example, Aoyama Cemetery's plot fee is 2.97 million yen per square meter, which can be higher than nearby private cemeteries. The company warns against the assumption that 'public is always the cheapest.'

2. Strict 'Eligibility': Not every Tokyo resident is eligible; facilities often impose strict restrictions, such as 'must have lived in Tokyo for at least five years.' Furthermore, since this usually involves re-leasing returned plots, winners cannot choose the location or size after selection.

3. Prohibition of 'Duplicate Applications': The company warns that multiple family members applying for the same plot can invalidate the entire application.

After the lecture, 'Individual Consultation Sessions' were held, where many participants stayed behind to discuss specific budget and process queries with professional advisors.

Hasegawa offers free support, including prompt notifications upon application release, professional on-site cemetery tours, and application document review support.

'While Tokyo Metropolitan Cemeteries are attractive, choosing a grave is a once-in-a-lifetime decision that transcends generations,' commented a Hasegawa representative. 'We want customers to look beyond just public options and compare them with private cemeteries and joint-burial cemeteries to find the most satisfying form of memorialization for their specific lifestyle and budget.'