Since Edo period when organized whaling was established, these mounds were built to mourn and show gratitude even in areas where whaling was a regular vocation, and they are seen in areas such as the Ryushima area near Ukishima-jinja Shrine in Katsuyama, Chiba Prefecture and Taiji-cho, Wakayama Prefecture.
江戸時代以降の組織捕鯨が確立されてから捕鯨を生業にする地域でも、追悼や感謝の意味を込めて建てられ塚で千葉県勝山の浮島神社の近く竜島地区、和歌山県太地町などにある。