KOEKISHA CO., LTD. was established in the Kitahama district of Osaka, where many large financial services, securities and other companies were located. At that time, funerals were just starting to become a business in Japan. Funeral companies did not use marketing activities, but KOEKISHA used many advertisements to raise awareness as a provider of low-cost, cordial funeral services.
KOEKISHA started handling large funerals as requests for funerals from large companies started in 1934. Moreover, in tragic settings brought about by many natural disasters and major accidents around 1935 and subsequently during the war, KOEKISHA handled the collection of remains of victims and funeral services.
Soon after our establishment, we started using a catalog of funeral services with the prices of our services in a format that is easy to understandA company funeral held soon after KOEKISHA started handling these large-scale events
1932
KOEKISHA was established at the home of the company’s first president Takahiro Murakami in the city of Osaka
The company moved to the Kitahama district of Osaka two months later.
In 1941, KOEKISHA added a hearse business to its funeral business and later began modernizing the funeral business while using the marketing slogan "funerals that satisfy the bereaved."
1941
KOEKISHA was required to merge with Hakuzensha, Tenreisha, Kita-Koekisha and Minami-Koekisha for a stronger business foundation during World War Ⅱ
1943
Based on the policy of the government, the merged company was established as KOEISHA, which operated 12 funeral halls in Osaka prefecture (the locations include Kitahama, Kita, Taniroku, Minami, Nagahori).
1945
After the war, the company continued to use the KOEISHA name initially, but returned to KOEKISHA because this name was so well known.
1946
The Osaka University branch opened on the campus of Osaka University
Opened the Sumiyoshi and Toyonaka Office
1947
Opened the Morishoji Office
The Osaka head office purchased adjacent land and expanded to a two-story wood structure (total of about 516m²).
1949
Opened the Nishinari Office (currently the Tamade Office)
Beginning in about 1950, KOEKISHA received an increasing number of orders for corporate funerals from large companies. Business operations of KOEKISHA grew during this period along with Japan's rapid economic growth.
The head office after completion of an addition
1950
Opened the Fuse Office (currently the Higashi Osaka Office)
1951
Opened the Nakanoshima Transportation Warehouse
1953
Opened the Sakai Branch
Established Kansai Jidosha Hanbai (subsequently renamed Kansai Jidosha Co., Ltd.)
Choku (a type of poem for the departed) posters were placed in Nankai railway cars and street cars in Osaka (The first Choku selected for a poster literally means "Autumn rain takes shape, dampens bamboo")
1956
Established Hayashi Kogei (subsequently renamed DEFI CO., LTD.) for the rental of funeral decorations and other items
1958
The Hanshin Office was upgraded to the Nishinomiya Branch
As the scale of operations increased, funeral, hearse, truck and warehouse operations became separate companies.
1960
Established wholly-owned Osaka Shindai Jidosha K.K. to operate a patient transportation service and Daiko Shoji K.K. to operate a real estate management business
1963
The contracted ceremony services, hearse transportation, truck transport and warehouse operations became separate companies and the funeral services business was established as KOEKISHA.
1964
KOEKISHA head office divested the transportation and warehouse operations, which became Moriguchi Soko K.K. The company constructed a two-story warehouse with a reinforced concrete structure on a site of about 13,223m2 along the National Route 1 in the city of Moriguchi.
In the 1970s, Japan's economy transitioned from rapid growth to steady growth. A shift in lifestyles resulted in an increasing share of funerals held at funeral halls instead of houses. Opened in 1971, the KOEKISHA Senri Hall is a large funeral hall modeled on Buddhist temple architecture of the Hakuho period (645-710). Senri Hall quickly attracted attention nationwide as a model for modern funeral halls.
The large funeral hall of the Senri Hall
1970
Opened the Nishitanabe Office
1971
Opened the Senri Funeral Hall along with two other funeral buildings and a building for overnight guests, resulting in a location able to hold four funerals at the same time
1975
Opened the Takatsuki Office
Established a funeral equipment and supplies center and began the centralized purchase of these items
1976
Continued aggressive sales strategy during the slow-growth period after the 1973 oil shock, including the additions of the Kishiwada and Takarazuka offices
1979
Opened the Hirakata Funeral Hall to serve the northeastern part of Osaka prefecture
As the demand for funerals for individuals at funeral halls increased, KOEKISHA constructed many funeral halls. Every funeral hall has close ties to the community where it is located.
1984
Relocated the vehicle center (head office’s first floor) to the new vehicle center in Tsurumi-ku, Osaka, which has a space for large sized vehicles.
1985
Opened the Higashi-Osaka Funeral Hall
1986
Opened the Sakai Funeral Hall
1987
Opened the Suita Funeral Hall and Nishinomiya-Yamate Funeral Hall
1989
Opened the Ogimachi-Koyu Funeral Hall
Started a qualified pension system as an additional employee benefit and support for financial stability
After a reorganization and revision of administrative systems to prepare for a stock market listing, trading of KOEKISHA stock started in March 1994 on the New Second Section of the Osaka Securities Exchange. The following May, KOEKISHA started operations in Tokyo. In September 1995, the listing moved to the Second Section of this exchange.
When the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake struck in January 1995, the KOEKISHA Nishinomiya Yamate Hall was designated as a base for funeral companies from all areas of Japan to use for their vehicles and volunteers for disaster relief activities.
Kitahama Excel Building (the former head office)
1990
Hearse transportation company KOEKISHA and funeral company KOEKISHA merged
The Kitahama Office was upgraded to a branch office at the time of relocation and the Osaka Branch (currently the Tenjinbashi Office) was established
Started an employee stockholding association
1992
Completed the 10-story Kitahama Excel Building, a new head office and image for KOEKISHA as the company looked ahead to the 21st century
1994
After four years of preparations, KOEKISHA was listed on the New Second Section of the Osaka Securities Exchange
Opened the Tokyo Office and Setagaya Office to prepare to begin operations in the Tokyo area; used mail to distribute flyers, held funeral seminars and used other market development activities
1995
Opened the Senri Training Center in Momoyamadai, the city of Suita, and started a periodic recruiting program and group lessons for new employees
Listed on the Second Section of the Osaka Securities Exchange
Opened the Senri Office
Opened the Nishitanabe Funeral Hall
1996
Opened the Kishiwada Funeral Hall
Purchased the Tokyo Headquarters Building (Setagaya-ku, Tokyo) and moved the Tokyo Office to this building
Opened the Yoga Office
1997
Opened a new building at the Nishinomiya-Yamate Funeral Hall
Replaced the Tokyo Office with the new Tokyo Sales Department and Tokyo Branch
Opened the Tamade Funeral Hall
Opened the Yoga Funeral Hall
Opened the Joto Funeral Hall
Held the first corporate funeral seminar in Osaka at the Kitahama Excel Building
1998
Opened KOEKISHA Hall Takarazuka
Opened the Nara Branch
Opened KOEKISHA Hall Toyonaka
Opened KOEKISHA Hall Takatsuki
Opened the Nishiterao Office
1999
Opened KOEKISHA Hall Tomio
Absorbed Osaka Shindai Jidosha K.K., which mainly provides a patient transportation service, for the centralized management of all transportation services
Established Excel Staff Service Co., Ltd. (currently EXCEL SUPPORT SERVICE CO., LTD.) for recruiting and training people to handle ceremonies and for the management and temporary staffing of these people
Opened the Sojiji Office
Opened the Kobe Office
Opened the Tsukiji Office (currently the Tokyo Branch)
KOEKISHA was listed on the Second Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange in December 2000 and stock listings moved to the first sections of the Tokyo and Osaka exchanges in September 2001. Starting in 2001, KOEKISHA launched a succession of services that are currently the company's core operations. In 2001, KOEKISHA started the PREViO CLUB for individuals and established an embalming center. In 2003, the Hidamari-no-Kai Bereavement Support Program started and a funeral consultation center started operating in 2006.
* Embalming is a process for preserving the deceased and returning the body to its most recent condition for viewing in during funeral services.
In 2004, the company was reorganized as a holding company and renamed SAN HOLDINGS, INC. KOEKISHA was newly established by spinning off the funeral and transportation businesses. To increase the strength of the SAN HOLDINGS Group, SOU-SEN CORPORATION and TARUI CO., LTD. became wholly owned subsidiaries in 2005 and 2006, respectively. In 2009, SAN HOLDINGS announced a 10-Year Vision and started the first phase of its Medium-term Management Plan based on a new SAN HOLDINGS Group corporate philosophy and code of conduct.
The SAN HOLDINGS logo after the 2019 redesign shown on the head office building at that time
2000
Opened the Ibaraki Office
Established Excel Travel Co., Ltd. to operate a travel business. Started working with hotels and Japanese restaurants to upgrade services for Buddhist memorial services
Listed on the Second Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange
2001
Started PREViO CLUB, a KOEKISHA program for individuals that is a one-stop source of services extending from consultations before a funeral to services following a funeral
Listed on the First Sections of the Tokyo and Osaka stock exchanges and declared a commitment to transparent management, creating funerals from the heart, and increasing corporate value
The KOEKISHA logistics, warehouse and equipment business and the Moriguchi Soko warehouse business were divested and combined to establish Excel Logi Co., Ltd.
Started an embalming service, including establishment of an embalming center (Tenjinbashi, Kita-ku, Osaka) in order to present the deceased at a funeral in a state as close as possible to appearance prior to death
Established TOKYO KOEKISHA CO., LTD.
2002
The KOEKISHA hearse transportation business, the microbus transportation business of Kansai Jidosha Co., Ltd. and the truck transportation business of Moriguchi Soko were divested and combined to establish the new Kansai Jidosha Co., Ltd.
Opened the Moriguchi Office
KOEKISHA absorbed Moriguchi Soko K.K., which leased real estate to KOEKISHA Group companies
Opened the Chitosekarasuyama Office
Opened the Myorenji Office
Opened KOEKISHA Hall Moriguchi
2003
Established Yuai Co., Ltd. to operate a family altar gallery
Opened the Tsurumi Office (Yokohama)
Opened the Embalming Center in the city of Moriguchi
Established the KOEKISHA Funeral Science College to train embalmers who can use the world’s most advanced technologies in this field
Opened Sangenjaya and Kyodo Offices
Opened DEFI Nagomian Kitahama Itami Store
2004
Opened Minoh Office
Opened KOEKISHA Yukigaya Funeral Hall
KOEKISHA was renamed SAN HOLDINGS, INC. due to the change to a holding company structure. The new KOEKISHA CO., LTD. was then established through a divestiture of the funeral and transportation businesses.
Established KOEKISHA Funeral Science College
The Nishitanabe Funeral Hall was reconstructed and named the KOEKISHA Hall Nishitanabe
2005
SAN HOLDINGS acquired all of the stock of funeral company SOU-SEN CORPORATION, which is based in the city of Yonago, making SOU-SEN a wholly owned subsidiary.
Opened KOEKISHA Hall Meidaimae
Opened the Hiyoshi Office
Enlarged and remodeled the Tamade Funeral Hall
The first nine graduates of KOEKISHA Funeral Science College were certified as embalmers
Opened KOEKISHA Hall Tama-Plaza
2006
Opened KOEKISHA Hall Nakamozu
Opened the DEFI Nagomian Kitahama Uriwari Store
Opened the Minoh YUAI family altar gallery
Opened the Tokyo Embalming Center
Received Privacy Mark certification
Opened the Senrioka Office
Acquired TARUI CO., LTD., a funeral company operating in the city of Akashi and nearby areas in Hyogo prefecture, making TARUI a wholly owned subsidiary
2007
Constructed a new Senri Funeral Hall adjacent to the original hall
Opened the Habikino Office
Opened the DEFI Nagomian Kitahama Shijonawate Store
2008
KOEKISHA absorbed Excel Logi Co., Ltd.
2009
Established a new corporate philosophy and code of conduct for the SAN HOLDINGS Group
Announced the 10 Year Vision for the SAN HOLDINGS Group and started the first medium-term management plan
Opened the KOEKISHA Kyozen-Habikino Funeral Hall
KOEKISHA and SAN HOLDINGS started using a visual identity system by announcing new corporate symbols and logos
Established the Tokyo/Osaka dual head office structure and relocated offices
Moved the Moriguchi Business Center to Higashi Osaka
Between 2009 and 2012, businesses were reorganized and other actions were used for the optimization of the entire group in order to build a sound base for growth. Strategies for growth have subsequently been reexamined to reflect changes in market conditions. These measures were accompanied by the enlargement of operations beyond the funeral business to encompass many types of services for seniors at their final stages of life and family members after a death.
2010
Excel Staff Service Co., Ltd. absorbed TOKYO KOEKISHA
2011
Opened the KOEKISHA Denenchofu Funeral Hall
Opened the KOEKISHA Morishoji Funeral Hall
Opened the KOEKISHA Sumiyoshi-Mikage Funeral Hall
The temporary staffing business and decedent cleansing business of Excel Staff Service Co., Ltd. were terminated and this cleansing business was restarted at KOEKISHA.
KOEKISHA absorbed Kansai Jidosha Co., Ltd. and YUAI Co., Ltd.
Opened the KOEKISHA Gakuenmae Funeral Hall
2012
Opened the TARUI Funeral Hall in Deai (currently Kobe Nishi)
2013
Opened the TARUI Funeral Hall in Chohanji
Opened the KOEKISHA Takanawa Funeral Hall
Opened the KOEKISHA Ishibashi Funeral Hall
Opened the KOEKISHA Sengawa Funeral Hall
Opened the KOEKISHA Koenji Funeral Hall
Excel Staff Service Co., Ltd. absorbed the catering business of DEFI CO., LTD.
KOEKISHA absorbed the flower business of DEFI CO., LTD.
Excel Staff Service Co., Ltd. was renamed EXCEL SUPPORT SERVICE CO., LTD.
2014
Opened the KOEKISHA Esaka Funeral Hall
Opened the KOEKISHA Hiyoshi Funeral Hall
2015
Constructed a new KOEKISHA Tenjinbashi Funeral Hall at the same location
Opened the KOEKISHA Saidaiji Funeral Hall
2016
Started a new medium-term business plan (FY2016-FY2018) based on the accomplishments of the previous plan (FY2013-FY2015) and changes in market conditions
Opened the KOEKISHA Rokkomichi Funeral Hall
Opened the KOEKISHA Konanyamate Funeral Hall
Opened the KOEKISHA Kuzuha Funeral Hall
Opened the KOEKISHA Mukonoso Funeral Hall
Constructed a new TARUI Funeral Hall in Okuradani adjacent to the original hall
Completely remodeled the SOU-SEN Yonago Funeral Hall
Constructed a new KOEKISHA Nishinomiya-Yamate Funeral Hall at the same location
Opened the KOEKISHA Kitami Funeral Hall
Started the end-of-life support business as a new business domain.
Used funeral catering knowledge as the basis for opening two directly operated ramen restaurants in Osaka (the first Nishiohashi store and the second Nishinakajima store) using the Umai Men Niwa Fuku Kitaru ("Delicious noodles Brings Happiness") brand
2017
Opened the TARUI Funeral Hall in Nishiakashi
Opened the KOEKISHA Koshienguchi Funeral Hall
Opened the KOEKISHA Senriyamada Funeral Hall
Constructed a new KOEKISHA Hirakata Funeral Hall at the same location
Opened the KOEKISHA Higashikurume Funeral Hall
Started a nursing care business; Opened and started operating day care facilities specializing in rehabilitation using the POSSIBLE brand
2018
Opened POSSIBLE Minoh Makiochi
Opened POSSIBLE Ikeda
Opened the KOEKISHA Hall Tsukuno
2019
Started the FY2019-FY2021 medium-term management plan
