Exploring Growth Strategies in the Funeral Industry: NFL Vol.02 Event Insights

On November 7, 2025, LDT Inc., headquartered in Shibuya, Tokyo, held its second event of the 'Next Funeral Lab (NFL).' This event aimed at fostering learning and networking within the funeral industry, showcased critical insights into why certain companies succeed. Spearheaded by Mr. Takashi Koizumi, CEO of Ending Research Institute, the topic focused on "Why has that company grown? Hidden hints of business expansion found in financial statements."

During this insightful session, Mr. Koizumi articulated significant strategies behind the expansion observed in certain funeral service businesses. He illustrated these concepts with concrete examples and numerical data, making the principles of effective management both clear and applicable.

Highlights from Koizumi's Lecture

1. Market Polarization and Pricing Strategy

One key topic of discussion was the increasing polarization of the market, necessitating refined pricing strategies to cater to both high-end and budget-conscious clients. Koizumi emphasized that understanding customer segments helps in devising tailored offerings.

2. Growth Phases: Internalizing Operations and Advertising Investments

Koizumi provided a roadmap of successful growth stages, which include in-house floral arrangements, expanding hall locations, and strategic advertising investments. By internalizing services, businesses could enhance quality and control costs, leading to better profit margins.

3. Financial Strategies: Subsidies and Group Management

The importance of financial strategies, including the effective utilization of subsidies, immediate write-offs, and strategic group management, was another focal point. This combination can help optimize funding flows and resource allocation, positioning companies for sustainable growth.

4. Innovative Revenue Streams: Pre-arrangement Consultations

Additionally, Koizumi introduced new revenue opportunities such as pre-arrangement consultations and services for solo customers. These services not only diversify income sources but also meet rising customer expectations in a more personalized manner.

Dialogue between Koizumi and Shiraishi

The dialogue between Mr. Koizumi and Kazuya Shiraishi, CEO of LDT, further illuminated discussions about the timing of new locations, human resource systems, advertising strategies, recruitment, product design, and digital transformation. They exchanged both successful tactics and failures, providing a well-rounded perspective on business management in today's competitively shifting landscape.

Feedback from Event Participants

Participants were particularly enthusiastic about the practical takeaways from the event. One attendee, Akihiko Akiba, CEO of Shiokaze Co. in Chiba, lauded the event's utility. He stated, "There were many specific insights, from financial statement analysis to advertising strategies, which provided us with valuable hints for reassessing our own plans. The direction for digital marketing aimed at an aging transition for our customer base was also an eye-opener. This underlines the importance of learning from other companies."

The event successfully fostered discussions around balancing cost reduction while promoting valuable funeral services, reiterating a common theme that emerged throughout the day: the need for re-thinking traditional approaches in light of evolving consumer demands

Overview of LDT Inc.

Company Name: LDT Inc.
CEO: Kazuya Shiraishi
Established: September 20, 2019
Headquarters: 3rd Floor, COERU Shibuya, 2-3-5 Shibuya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Branches:

- Fukuoka Branch: 4th Floor, Recruit Tenjin Building, 1-1-3 Maizuru, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka City
- Saga Branch: Wataya Bessou, Oozaka Shimojuku, 738, Ureshino, Saga

LDT focuses predominantly on providing AgeTech (technology for the aging population) platforms, including software development, consulting services, and various customer-oriented software.

Services for Funeral Homes

- Cloud-based funeral customer management system, Smart Funeral
- Job and recruitment service tailored for the funeral industry, Smart Funeral Job

Services for General Customers

- Life Ending Platform, Kind Funeral
- Priest dispatch service, Kind Priest
- Job recruitment for caregivers, Care Job
- Job recruitment for nurses, Nurse Job
- Information on paid elderly homes, Elderly Home Information Center
- Home visit massage services, Nagomi Treatment Center

Services for Corporate Clients

- Easy establishment of personnel matching systems for on-demand job services under branded models, Match Drive
- Job matching services for caregivers and nurses, Care Shift

For more in-depth coverage, check the full article here.