Podcast No. 35 in English

Today is August 12th, 2021.

This is your host,  Yuusuke Wada, probably the only funeral business podcaster discussing the death industry business of Japan in English.

I’m also the researcher of the Reform of Death and the journey to the end of life.

I must apologize for the people waiting for the weekly podcast last week.
I had to skip it.
AND I’m also one day late for this one as well.
I almost missed this one.

No. 34 was about a special embossing paper that pops up after passing through the heater.

Today, I wish to talk about a man, 20 years ago who created the industry of “Relic Collection Business” in Japan.

His name is Mr. Taichi Yoshida, the president of the company called “Keepers”.

I remember when I was still in the mortuary business trying to find a better way for the surviving family. There are always problems of what to do with relics of the deceased. 
Being an undertaker, that wasn’t my job but there was a potential market from the very beginning and people did not know how and what to do with them.

Many threw it away as “non-combustible waste” and had it go to the dump.

We took care of old Buddhist home altars when needed and took it apart in our warehouse and had it thrown out.

But many times, beside these religious materials, there are monetary value.

Mr. Yoshida posted and sent business postcards (flyers) to all funeral homes asking them to find a client in need of house cleaning.

Yes, the crux is “house cleaning”.

Continue reading “Podcast in English 20210812 Relic Collection Business” →