How to Create a Place to Live Together in an Era of Competition and Exclusion

Exploring the possibilities of "communal autonomy" from 15 years of youth outreach practice in public spaces (streets) in Nagoya.

The National Children's Welfare Center, a specified non-profit organization, will speak at a publication commemorative event titled "From Meritocracy to Communal Autonomy: The Radical Yet Gentle Challenge of the National Children's Welfare Center" on Saturday, May 16, 2026. The event is hosted by the Uehiro Project for the Study of Global Ethics, University of Tokyo Center for Philosophy (UTCP), affiliated with the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, University of Tokyo.

This event is held to commemorate the publication of Director Kazuki Arai's book, "From Meritocracy to Communal Autonomy: Education and Welfare Practices Overcoming Competition and Exclusion" (Seseragi Publishing). Together with members of the National Children's Welfare Center, they will introduce 15 years of youth outreach practices in public spaces in Nagoya and consider the possibilities of "communal autonomy," where everyone can be present, interact, and create a space together in a society where people are easily evaluated by their abilities and achievements.

On the day of the event, Kohei Saito, known as a thinker of the commons, and Shinji Kajiya, a philosopher, will also participate, engaging in dialogue across the fields of welfare, education, philosophy, and social thought, discussing forms of coexistence beyond support relationships.

Background of the Event

In recent years, issues such as isolation, poverty, school refusal, hikikomori (social withdrawal), and mental distress among children and young people have become widely recognized as social problems. On the other hand, even with established systems and consultation services, many people cannot access them themselves, or feel resistance to being "supported."

The National Children's Welfare Center has built relationships with such people by meeting them in public spaces, greeting them, chatting, and spending time together, before guiding them to systems and consultation services.

A characteristic of their activities is that they do not fixate on children and young people as "support targets with problems" but welcome them as "companions" who create a space together. Participating young people have repeatedly created their own places and supported each other, while also being involved in the planning, operation, public relations, and decision-making of activities.

This event re-examines this practice from the perspectives of "meritocracy" and "communal autonomy." How can we reclaim spaces where people meet as human beings before being evaluated, in a society where people are easily evaluated by their abilities, achievements, qualifications, and adaptability? This will be discussed not only in the context of welfare and education but also as a question for society as a whole.

Book "From Meritocracy to Communal Autonomy: Education and Welfare Practices Overcoming Competition and Exclusion" Publication Commemorative Event

Event Outline

Event Name

From Meritocracy to Communal Autonomy: The Radical Yet Gentle Challenge of the National Children's Welfare Center

Date and Time: Saturday, May 16, 2026, 2:00 PM~

Venue: KOMCEE West 402, Komaba Campus, University of Tokyo

Host: Uehiro Project for the Study of Global Ethics, University of Tokyo Center for Philosophy (UTCP), affiliated with the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, University of Tokyo

Speakers: National Children's Welfare Center

Kazuki Arai (Director)

Mao Ida (Member)

Mirai Kurimoto (Member)

UTCP

Kohei Saito

Shinji Kajiya

Event Details

https://utcp.c.u-tokyo.ac.jp/events/2026/05/from_meritocracy_to_communal_a/

Highlights of this Event

The characteristic of this event is that it discusses youth support practices not merely as an introduction to welfare activities, but from the perspective of re-examining the nature of modern society.

The National Children's Welfare Center has created spaces in public areas and streets of Nagoya where everyone can be present, meeting children and young people who have difficulty connecting with systems and consultation services, and those who tend to be isolated on the streets.

In these spaces, professionals do not unilaterally provide support; instead, participants themselves take charge of activities and are involved in the operation and decision-making of the space. This practice, which transcends the fixed relationship of 'those who receive support' and 'those who provide support' and creates a space together, also presents an alternative societal model to a meritocratic society based on competition and exclusion.

They will consider the possibilities of youth outreach in public spaces, aligning with Kohei Saito's philosophy of "the commons" and Shinji Kajiya's work on philosophical dialogue and coexistence.

About the Book

"From Meritocracy to Communal Autonomy: Education and Welfare Practices Overcoming Competition and Exclusion" is a book that re-examines the nature of a society based on competition and exclusion, drawing from the National Children's Welfare Center's youth outreach practices in public spaces in Nagoya.

This book considers the reconstruction of education, welfare, public spaces, and communities through practices that welcome children and young people not as "support targets" but as "companions" who create a space together.

Kohei Saito wrote the obi (book band) for this book.

About the National Children's Welfare Center

The National Children's Welfare Center is a 2