Beads

Beads Co., Ltd. operates residential hospice facilities in Japan, providing a crucial alternative for end-of-life care in a society facing a growing number of people unable to be cared for in hospitals. Founded on July 4, 2022, by CEO Daisuke Yamasaki, the company opened its first hospice home, "Beads no Ie," in Fukuoka in December 2023. This was followed by a second facility in Itoshima in March 2025.

The company's business model centers on residential-style paid nursing homes that include on-site, 24-hour home-visit nursing and long-term care stations. This integrated approach allows Beads to provide continuous medical and personal care for individuals with terminal cancer or neurodegenerative diseases who find it difficult to live at home or in a hospital. The service focuses not only on medical needs but also on preserving a high quality of life, allowing residents to maintain personal choices and routines in a comfortable, home-like environment.

To enhance operational efficiency and care quality, Beads has implemented the "ZEST" care schedule optimization system. This focus on technology and standardized processes is part of its strategy to support further expansion. In January 2025, the company secured approximately JPY 1 billion in a Series A funding round led by Eight Roads Ventures Japan and Norinchukin Capital Co., Ltd. These funds are earmarked for opening new facilities and strengthening the organization to meet the high demand for end-of-life care options in Japan's super-aging society.

Keywords: residential hospice, end-of-life care, home-visit nursing, palliative care, long-term care, nursing homes Japan, elder care, terminal illness support, neurodegenerative disease care, Fukuoka healthcare, Itoshima healthcare, healthcare startup, social impact, Series A funding, community care, assisted living, senior housing, medical care services, patient-centered care