[Inheritance Preparation Survey] 67.0% of people want to track parents' assets, yet only 35.4% actually do—Nearly 70% miss parents' bank accounts

Many people hope to prepare for potential inheritance issues while their parents are still healthy. However, few actually know the full extent of their parents' assets.

PR media, which operates an information media outlet dedicated to inheritance, surveyed 1,000 men and women aged 30 to 69 across Japan to clarify the extent of asset tracking by the younger generation and the reality of inheritance preparations.

The results show that while 67.0% of respondents want to track their parents' assets in the future, only 35.4%—approximately one in three—have actually done so. Furthermore, 73.0% of those who do not fully grasp their parents' assets are unaware of their parents' bank savings (account numbers and balances), despite these being the most common type of asset. This highlights the stark reality of households facing inheritance without sufficient preparation.

1. Half of the children have "almost no understanding" of their parents' assets The first step in preparing for inheritance is knowing what assets parents hold. Only 35.4% said they have a grasp, while approximately half (50.4%) responded that they have "almost no or absolutely no understanding."

2. "Bank savings" are the least visible The most poorly tracked asset was "bank savings (account numbers and balances)," at 73.0%. This was followed by "life insurance, medical insurance, and personal pensions (44.0%)," "securities (27.0%)," and "real estate (22.5%)."

3. 67.0% want to track their parents' assets When asked if they want to track their parents' asset situation, 67.0% expressed a desire to do so, combining "definitely want to" (26.3%) and "would like to if possible" (40.7%).

4. #1 Inheritance measure of interest is "Asset Visualization" at 34.7% When asked about measures of interest to resolve anxiety regarding inheritance, the most common response was "methods for 'visualizing' parents' assets (listing/recording)," at 34.7%. This is nearly double the second most popular response, "tips for discussing inheritance with parents" (17.3%).