What Is Jichinsai? Jichinsai（地鎮祭） is a traditional Japanese ceremony held before construction begins. It is meant to symbolically ask for safety and smooth progress during the building process. Today, holding a Jichinsai is not mandatory , and many homes are built without one. How Common Is It Today? Based on personal experience working with homeowners, even among Japanese clients, the decision to hold a Jichinsai often feels fairly evenly split. Some choose to do it, while o

While a very small fraction of land brokers in Japan can handle foreign languages, the construction sector remains largely domestic. Even in a shrinking market for new homes, many builders do not actively seek international clients. The Cost of "Tema" (Hassle) The reason is practical rather than ideological. Builders worry that language barriers will lead to mistakes in meetings, misunderstandings about specifications, or difficulties in mediating with neighbours. In short, i