[Implementation Report] Shiseido Children's Foundation Holds "50th Shiseido Overseas Child Welfare Training Report Meeting" at the Children and Families Agency

The Shiseido Children's Foundation (Location: Chuo-ku, Tokyo, Chairperson: Yoshihiro Shiojima) held the "2025 Fiscal Year (50th) Shiseido Overseas Child Welfare Training Report Meeting" at the Children and Families Agency on June 12, 2026.

On the day, eight trainees who participated in the training in Quebec, Canada in November 2025 reported on the local "integrated welfare and healthcare system" and the latest trends focusing on child rights advocacy. They also made concrete policy recommendations for the future development of child welfare in Japan and engaged in active exchanges of opinions with officials from the Children and Families Agency.

Background and Objectives of the Report Meeting

Since 1972, the Shiseido Children's Foundation has conducted overseas training for mid-career staff at child welfare institutions, etc., with the aim of developing human resources in the child welfare sector. For the milestone 50th session (Fiscal Year 2025), the training focused on "Child Rights Advocacy Practices and Challenges," "Preventive Support through Collaboration with Welfare, Healthcare, etc.," and "Systems and Practices of Social Care." The training was conducted from November 1st for nine days, combining on-site training (Quebec, Canada, etc.) and remote training.

This report meeting at the Children and Families Agency was held with the objective of feeding back the lessons learned from the training in Quebec, which aims to harmonize cultural diversity and promote social integration in a multicultural society, to Japan's child welfare policies and practices.

Main Content of the Report Meeting and Policy Recommendations

At the report meeting, all eight trainees took the stage, sharing the microphone in a relay format. They introduced Quebec's advanced child welfare system and specific initiatives at various sites visited, including administrative, judicial, medical, and private organizations.

As a summary of the training, the trainees presented six keywords they derived as important elements for realizing "stability" in the lives and futures of children who cannot live with their biological parents: "Rights Advocacy," "Vulnerability," "Prevention," "Community," "Transition Support," and "Support Provider Development." They then made concrete policy recommendations for the future development of child welfare in Japan.

Q&A with Children and Families Agency Officials Directly Addressing Japanese Issues

During the Q&A session following the presentations, questions directly related to the current state of child welfare in Japan were posed by specialists and section chiefs from the Children and Families Agency. Active exchanges of opinions took place with the trainees, each possessing their own specialized perspective.

<Q&A Topics>

Foster care system and the ideal form of family-based care

Staff development in child guidance centers

Effectiveness verification of sexual violence prevention programs

Support for independence and creating an environment where children can express their opinions

Comments from the Children and Families Agency

At the end of the report meeting, the Children and Families Agency expressed their hope, stating, "We sincerely hope that you will widely disseminate the valuable experiences and learning gained from this training." Furthermore, they provided warm yet encouraging comments, saying, "We would like to hear again in a year's time how the policy recommendations and the feedback to the field presented by the delegation are being realized and what changes have occurred." The report meeting concluded successfully.

Materials summarizing the inspection reports and policy recommendations by the trainees, as well as the "50th Shiseido Overseas Child Welfare Training Report," are available for anyone to view on the foundation's official website. Please visit and read them.

50th Shiseido Overseas Child Welfare Training Report

About the Shiseido Children's Foundation

The Shiseido Children's Foundation was established in April 1972 as a project to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Shiseido Co., Ltd., with the aim of giving back to society. With the vision "Towards a society where all children are full of smiles and shine in their own way" and the mission "To connect with like-minded friends and support children's resilience," the foundation engages in unique activities.

【Foundation Overview】

Organization Name: Public Interest Incorporated Foundation Shiseido Children's Foundation

Date of Establishment: April 8, 1972

Representative: Chairperson Yoshihiro Shiojima

Location: 7-5-5 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0061

Official Website: https://www.shiseido-zaidan.or.jp/