Tatumi Industrial Co. based in Kawasaki recently made headlines with its innovative product, the "Okuriko Pet," which serves as a storage refrigerator for deceased pets. The president of the company, Hiroyuki Iwane, faced internal skepticism when the idea was first proposed, as the company's primary focus had been on manufacturing refrigerators for storing food, not for preserving dead bodies.
The Okuriko Pet refrigerator, released for sale in August, is customizable to accommodate different types of pets, with each door featuring a photo of an animal like dogs, cats, hamsters, and parakeets. In response to the surge in inquiries from the end-of-life industry during the COVID-19 pandemic, Tatumi Industrial expanded its product line to include refrigeration units for both human bodies and pets. This shift was prompted by a decrease in orders from convenience stores and a rise in demand from temples and funeral companies.
As the number of pet owners in Japan increases, so does the demand for services related to animal funerals and morgues. The company's move to introduce the Okuriko Pet refrigerator at a trade fair in Tokyo aimed to cater to this growing market. With pets increasingly considered as cherished family members, Tatumi Industrial Co. hopes to provide a solution that allows owners to spend additional time with their deceased pets before saying their final goodbyes.