Service Policy

Consultations We Accept

We accept the following consultations free of charge.

Consultations Regarding Absence of Successors

Situations such as difficulty finding a successor within your denomination, difficulty continuing operations due to age or health, or difficulty passing to family members.

Succession Predicated on Continued Religious Activity

Handovers to next-generation stewards, predicated on safeguarding the principal image or sacred object, continuing annual observances, and sincere engagement with parishioners and shrine supporters.

Stewardship Requests Based on Sound Business Plans

Requests aspiring to public-interest endeavors that contribute to the community — such as cemetery and memorial park operation, nursery operation, or care facility operation.

Reports of Approaches From Suspicious Intermediaries

Consultations to confirm and organize situations where you have received approaches from intermediaries with unclear identities, or been presented with opaque terms.

Consultations We Decline

We do not accept the following types of consultations. If such intent becomes evident during a consultation, we conclude the engagement at that time.

Speculative Inquiries

We do not respond to inquiries that treat the religious corporation's legal personality as a speculative object for short-term gains. The Religious Corporations Act grants such legal personality on the premise of continuing religious activity, and treatments that stray from that premise are not accepted, either legally or socially.

Inquiries Aimed at Circumventing Taxation

We do not respond to inquiries that seek to use the non-taxation provisions applicable to religious corporations solely to circumvent taxation. The tax provisions for religious corporations exist because of the public interest inherent to religious activity, and misuse undermines social trust in the activity itself.

Proposals That Skip or Circumvent Proper Procedures

We do not respond to proposals that seek to transfer effective control by skipping or circumventing proper procedures — such as responsible director meetings, rule amendments, and filings with the competent authorities. Effective transfers of control without corresponding formal changes carry risks of later disputes, administrative sanctions, and criminal liability.

Inquiries Involving Antisocial Forces

We do not accept inquiries from antisocial forces or their affiliates, nor consultations that involve cooperation with such forces. If such involvement becomes evident during the engagement, we terminate the relationship immediately.

Vigilance Against Opaque Intermediaries in the Field

Reports have increased across the country of approaches to religious corporation stewards from intermediaries whose identities are unclear. Please respond carefully if you observe the following patterns.

Large Amounts Proposed at First Contact

An approach that leads with a monetary figure before carefully understanding the situation prioritizes financial exchange over continued religious activity. Legitimate succession support begins with organizing the current situation and comparing options.

Attempts to Skip Involvement of the Competent Authority

Statements such as "the competent authority need not know" or "you can effectively hand over without a rule amendment" contradict the intent of the Religious Corporations Act. Proper succession always entails filings with the competent authorities.

Changing Only Officer Names to Effectively Transfer Control

Passing legal personality to someone without intent to continue religious activity — through name changes alone — is highly problematic and becomes subject to later disputes and administrative measures.

Rushing the Agreement / Demanding Immediate Confidential Decisions

Proper succession advances through careful coordination among stewards, family, temple support councils, competent authorities, and specialists — typically over more than a year. Claims that "you will lose the opportunity if you do not decide now" should be considered as likely undue pressure.

If You Have Received Suspicious Approaches

We will listen to what you have received and, free of charge, help identify any warning signs of dishonest brokering.

Free consultation on dishonest brokers

Principles of Lawful Succession Procedure

Adherence to the Religious Corporations Act

We support succession only within the framework of the Religious Corporations Act, the guidelines of the competent authorities, and denominational rules. We do not respond to inquiries about circumvention schemes or operations that stray from the intent of the law.

Proper Filings With the Competent Authorities

All filings required by the Religious Corporations Act — changes of responsible directors, changes of representative directors, rule amendments — are carried out in the proper form. We do not omit filings or make false statements.

Assurance of Continued Religious Activity

The continuation of religious activity itself — safeguarding the principal image or sacred object, continuing annual observances, and sincere engagement with parishioners and shrine supporters — is set out as a written commitment with the succession applicant.

The Right to Choose Remains With the Consultee

We propose applicant candidates, but the ultimate decision — "this is the person to whom I wish to pass this on" — always rests with the current steward considering succession. We do not push particular candidates on you.

Complete Exclusion of Antisocial Forces

Consultees, succession applicants, and partner specialists are all confirmed in writing to have no relationship whatsoever with antisocial forces.