Recovery Program for Children from Fukushima at Kuromata River in Shizuoka City, July 25 (Sat) to 27 (Mon) [Shizuoka]

The 'Parent-Child Wakuwaku Picnic Executive Committee,' which includes the Palsystem Shizuoka Consumer Cooperative (Headquarters: Oobuchi, Fujinomiya City; Chairperson: Satoko Hosoya), will host a recovery program for victims of the Fukushima nuclear disaster from July 25 (Sat) to July 27 (Mon), 2026. Palsystem Shizuoka will contribute by providing food supplies and having staff members supervise children during river play activities.

Refresh Through Unusual Experiences

The recovery program invites residents of Fukushima Prefecture and will host two households, each consisting of one parent and up to two elementary or middle school children. The goal is to foster connections and share memories of the Great East Japan Earthquake through interaction with local Shizuoka volunteers.

Participants will stay at 'Kuromata Sakubei,' a farmhouse inn located along the clear-flowing Kuromata River in Shizuoka City. They will enjoy a two-night, three-day nature experience, listening to the sounds of mountain streams and birds, and gazing at the stars at night.

At the Kuromata River, children will search for aquatic life, play in the streams, and try their hand at catching fish. During meal times, they will challenge themselves with activities rarely experienced in daily life, such as making soba noodles and barbecuing using fires they start themselves. On clear nights, they will observe the stars, including the Milky Way visible to the naked eye, and enjoy summer fireworks—a must-have summer tradition—deepening their bonds with staff members.

On the final day, participants will visit the 'Great Ginkgo Tree of Kuromata,' a natural monument designated by Shizuoka Prefecture, estimated to be around 500 years old. From a viewing platform behind the majestic tree—standing 20 meters tall with a trunk circumference of 8.7 meters—participants will enjoy panoramic views of the mountain village. The trip will conclude with a visit to a tea café, where they will savor Shizuoka’s renowned green tea.

▲ Stream play including searching for river creatures (from 2025 event) ▲ Staff members participating as supervising volunteers

'Parent-Child Wakuwaku Picnic 2026' Event Overview

【Dates】July 25 (Sat), 2026, 1:15 PM to July 27 (Mon), 1:00 PM

【Venue】Farmhouse Inn 'Kuromata Sakubei' (1967 Kuromata, Aoi Ward, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Prefecture)

【Meeting/Dispersal Point】JR Shizuoka Station

【Participants】Two households (up to six people) residing in Fukushima Prefecture

【Schedule】

July 25 (Sat): Searching for river creatures, soba noodle-making experience, fireworks, and stargazing

July 26 (Sun): Stream play, fire-starting experience, fish catching, barbecue lunch

July 27 (Mon): Visit to the 500-year-old ginkgo tree, tea tasting at a local tea café

【Organizer】Parent-Child Wakuwaku Picnic Executive Committee

▲ Soba noodle-making experience ▲ Essential summer fireworks event in the evening

※ All images from previous program implementations

Supporting Fukushima Through Donations

The Parent-Child Wakuwaku Picnic Executive Committee was established in 2012 when the Fukushima Children Support Fund (Aoi Ward, Shizuoka City; Representative: Kiyoshi Matsutani) sought to launch recovery programs in Shizuoka and called for cooperation from local civic groups. Palsystem Shizuoka has participated since 2014, contributing food donations and staff support for event operations each time.

The program has been held 18 times by August 2025, welcoming over 300 participants to Shizuoka. After the pandemic, large bus tours were scaled down, and the program has resumed in its current format. To reduce financial burdens on participating families, street fundraising and donations are used to cover operational costs. The 'Support Fund for Victims of the Tokyo Electric Power Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant Accident,' contributed by Palsystem members, is also utilized, continuing to stand by the people of Fukushima.

Palsystem Shizuoka will continue to leverage the power of cooperative networks, standing alongside disaster victims together with its members and local organizations.

Palsystem Shizuoka Consumer Cooperative

Headquarters: 2297-8 Oobuchi, Fujinomiya City, Shizuoka Prefecture; Chairperson: Satoko Hosoya Capital: 610 million yen; Members: 45,000; Total Business Volume: 5.98 billion yen (as of March 2026) Website: https://palsystem-shizuoka.jp/

Palsystem Consumer Cooperative Federation Headquarters: 2-2-6 Okubo, Shinjuku Ward, Tokyo (LaQua East Shinjuku); Chairperson: Yasuyuki Shibusawa Total Business Volume (12 member cooperatives and unified system users): 268.96 billion yen; Total Members: 1.77 million (as of March 2026) Member Cooperatives: Palsystem Tokyo, Palsystem Kanagawa, Palsystem Chiba, Palsystem Saitama, Palsystem Ibaraki-Tochigi, Palsystem Yamanashi-Nagano, Palsystem Gunma, Palsystem Fukushima, Palsystem Shizuoka, Palsystem Niigata Tokimeki, Palsystem Mutual Aid Federation, Ai-Coop Miyagi Website: https://www.pal-system.co.jp/