Expansion of Funeral Donation Data Revealed in 17 Cities with 154 Additional Cases

New Insights into Funeral Donations in Japan

On April 19, 2026, Delight Inc. (Headquarters: Shinjuku, Tokyo, CEO: Ryo Takahashi) expanded the release of actual funeral donation amounts across 17 cities in Japan, adding 154 new cases to the already presenting data.

This latest survey follows the initial release from March 2026, which covered only Yokohama, Nagoya, and Fukuoka. With this update, total information from 20 cities is now accessible via the "Soogi" platform (https://soogi.jp), providing more comprehensive insights into funeral costs related to donation practices.

Survey Findings

In the earlier survey, the funeral donations were reported to be approximately 300,000 yen across the initial three cities. However, the data from the 17 cities showcases a varied range from around 210,000 to 420,000 yen, indicating significant regional disparities.

Sample Data

Here are a few examples of donation amounts from the recent 17-city survey:

City	Sect	Form	Total Donation (Yen)
----	-----	---	----
Sapporo	Koyasan Shingon Sect	Two-day	550,000
Sendai	Chizan Shingon Sect	Family	210,000
Saitama	Tendai Sect	One-day	500,000
Chiba	Pure Land Sect	Two-day	380,000
Kawasaki	Chizan Shingon Sect	Family	250,000
Sagamihara	Nichiren Sect	Family	310,000
Niigata	Otani Sect	Two-day	250,000
Shizuoka	Rinzai Sect	Family	250,000
Hamamatsu	Rinzai Sect	Family	300,000
Kyoto	Honganji Sect	Family	300,000
Osaka	Pure Land Sect	Family	250,000
Sakai	Daitokuji Sect	Family	350,000
Kobe	Shingon Sect	Family	350,000
Okayama	Nichiren Sect	Family	420,000
Hiroshima	Honganji Sect	Family	310,000
Kitakyushu	Honganji Sect	Family	300,000
Kumamoto	Nichiren Sect	Family	260,000

The above data is a sample of donations across the cities. Detailed information can be accessed through the individual city pages on the "Soogi" website.

Background for Extended Data Release

The decision to expand the data was influenced by a survey carried out by Delight on February 20, 2026, involving 1,000 men and women in their 40s and 50s, focusing on concerns regarding the selection of funeral homes. More than half (50.7%) expressed the need for actual examples of total costs, including donations and meal fees prior to making a decision.

Understanding Funeral Donations

Funeral donations symbolize appreciation towards the priests but lack a fixed price. A study conducted in January 2025 revealed that 41.6% found the varying norms around donation amounts confusing. Approximately 60% of participants indicated difficulty in ascertaining appropriate donation quantities, emphasizing the need for clear examples ahead of pricing potential funeral services.

Previously, only three cities provided a narrow view; hence, the move to incorporate 17 cities aims to equip consumers with a more substantial data set for informed decision-making in their funeral planning process.

Significant Variances in Donation Amounts

With the latest data, it was noted that average donations varied tremendously across urban boundaries. For instance, while cities like Sapporo present averages of around 420,000 yen, Hiroshima averages only about 210,000 yen, illustrating a discrepancy exceeding 200,000 yen.

Similarly, even within the same sect, the amounts can diverge sharply based on geography. For example, in the Honganji sect, the average donation in Kobe stood at approximately 530,000 yen, while that in Hiroshima was just about 210,000 yen.

Breakdown of Donations

The breakdown of donations sheds light on additional regional differences, revealing not only the total amounts but also itemized costs such as reading fees, posthumous name fees, transportation, and meal fees. This detailed information aids consumers in making clearer plans regarding their expected donation amounts.

Accessing Further Insights

For those interested in viewing more examples of donation practices, each city's donation data is made available through their respective pages on the "Soogi" platform.

Conclusion

Delight Inc.'s efforts in making donation data accessible reflect the growing need for transparency within the funeral sector. By allowing consumers to make informed decisions regarding their memorial services, it seeks to ease the emotional and financial burdens surrounding this sensitive area of life.