PalSystem Kanagawa to Hold 'Dementia Supporter Training Course' on May 20 (Wednesday) in Kawasaki City to Support and Watch Over Those Who Can - [Kanagawa]

PalSystem Kanagawa Consumers' Co-operative (Headquarters: Shin-Yokohama, Kohoku-ku, Yokohama City; President: Noriko Fujita) will hold a 'Dementia Supporter' training course from 1:30 PM to 3:00 PM on Wednesday, May 20, at its Miyamae Center delivery base (Miyamae-ku, Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture). By having local people gain correct knowledge and understanding, they will be able to support people with dementia and their families.

Towards a society where people can safely say they have dementia

The training course will be held as part of the 'Community Excitement Project Everyone Relaxing CAFÉ♪', a monthly gathering place for local residents at the Miyamae Center. No application or participation fee is required, and anyone can easily join. By attending the 90-minute course, participants can correctly understand dementia and become dementia supporters who watch over individuals with dementia and their families living in the community within their capabilities.

The lecturer is Motomu Ikeda, a dementia care instructor at Saint-Care Kanagawa Co., Ltd. (Naka-ku, Yokohama City). He will teach about the symptoms of dementia, the feelings of individuals with dementia and their families, and important considerations when interacting with people with dementia, such as "don't surprise them," "don't rush them," and "don't hurt their self-esteem."

After completing the course, participants will receive a mascot called "Donkey Captain" (Roba Taicho), which signifies being a dementia supporter, and will support people in the community who are facing difficulties with what they can do. The "Donkey Captain" mascots also include those handmade monthly by volunteers at PalSystem Kanagawa Aso Center (Kawasaki City).

Since the system's inception in 2005, over 17 million people nationwide, from elementary school students to the elderly, have taken the dementia supporter course. The aim is to expand the community watch network and create a society where people feel safe to disclose that they have dementia.

Dementia Supporter Training Course Overview

[Date and Time] Wednesday, May 20, 2026, 1:30 PM - 3:00 PM

[Venue] PalSystem Kanagawa Miyamae Center 2nd floor conference room (1-9-2 Nogawahoncho, Miyamae-ku, Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture)

[Access] ● From Tokyu Den-en-toshi Line "Kajigaya Station," take Tokyu Bus "Kaji 01 line" bound for Saginuma Station, get off at "Nogawa Nakazato" and walk 1 minute.

● From Tokyu Den-en-toshi Line "Miyamaedaira Station," take City Bus "Shiro 11 line" bound for Ida Hospital, Shinjo Ekimae, get off at "Nogawa Nakazato" and walk 1 minute.

[Participation Fee] Free

[Application] Not required

[Cooperation] PalSystem Kanagawa Miyamae Center, Miyamae Ward Office Community Watch Support Center, Social Welfare Corporation Kunugizaka Fukushikai Mikadoso Community General Support Center, Small-scale Multifunctional Home Care Support Service Day Home Kawasaki Miyamae, Saint-Care Kanagawa Co., Ltd.

Utilizing Co-op Infrastructure for a Community-Inclusive Society

PalSystem Kanagawa collaborates with various organizations to realize a community-inclusive society, fulfilling its role as a community-rooted consumer cooperative. Community gathering projects are held at various bases such as delivery centers and welfare facilities, with the cooperation of community general support centers and neighborhood associations, calling for participation from local residents and users. These gathering places serve as hubs to create connections between people within the community and expand the safety net.

The "Donkey Captain" mascot handed to dementia supporters symbolizes a donkey that steadily moves forward step by step without rushing, leading the way towards a town where people with dementia can live with peace of mind. As part of the community gathering project, volunteers share time for handicrafts, putting their feelings of support into the dementia supporters.

PalSystem Kanagawa will continue to work hand-in-hand with people from diverse backgrounds living in the community, aiming to create a local society where everyone can thrive.

PalSystem Kanagawa Consumers' Co-operative

Location: Shin-Yokohama Kotsu Building, 3-18-16 Shin-Yokohama, Kohoku-ku, Yokohama City; President: Noriko Fujita
Capital Contribution: 11.98 billion JPY; Number of Members: 368,000; Total Business Volume: 57.02 billion JPY (as of end of March 2025)
HP: https://www.palsystem-kanagawa.coop/

PalSystem Consumers' Co-operative Union
Location: Lacus Higashi-Shinjuku, 2-2-6 Okubo, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo; President: Atsuyuki Shibusawa
13 member co-ops / Total business volume of members using unified business system: 260.42 billion JPY / Total number of members: 1.762 million (as of end of March 2025)
Member Co-ops: PalSystem Tokyo, PalSystem Kanagawa, PalSystem Chiba, PalSystem Saitama, PalSystem Ibaraki Tochigi, PalSystem Yamanashi Nagano, PalSystem Gunma, PalSystem Fukushima, PalSystem Shizuoka, PalSystem Niigata Tokimeki, PalSystem Kyosai Ren, Saitama Workers' Co-op, i-Coop Miyagi