Providing Support Through Food and Music for Children with Limited Access to Arts: "Kodomo Ongaku Shokudo" Officially Launched

Social Welfare Corporation Support21 (Chairman: Shinzo Araragi = Professor Emeritus, Sophia University), in collaboration with Pacific Philharmonia Tokyo (Chairman: Yoichi Hino), will officially launch "Kodomo Ongaku Shokudo" (Children's Music Cafeteria), a project that provides music and food by professional orchestra members, primarily targeting children who have limited opportunities to experience art due to economic hardship or other reasons. The purpose of this project is to combine Support21's expertise in self-reliance support for foreign-rooted people, including refugees, cultivated over 34 years, with the artistry of the orchestra, to provide opportunities that positively impact the minds and bodies of many children. We will dispatch musicians free of charge and provide light meals or snacks, carrying out the following activities: For the implementation of this project, Silverbacks Principal Co., Ltd. has made a significant donation of activity funds to Support21. Our organization will continue to widely solicit collaborators who agree with this purpose, striving to ensure the continuous activities of "Kodomo Ongaku Shokudo." [Specific Activities] * Deliver professional instrumentalists and meals or snacks free of charge to existing children's cafeterias, nurseries, and kindergartens in various regions (10 locations/month). * Hold similar mini-concerts in slightly larger community spaces (2 times/month). * Dispatch an orchestra of approximately 35 members, all free of charge (4 times/year). * Obtain support from many sympathizers and collaborators, including through the cooperation of initiators. * Focus efforts on public relations and fundraising activities. * Continue activities that contribute to the achievement of SDGs. [Background of this Project and Future Plans] Traditional children's cafeterias often include many children of foreign roots among those facing difficult living conditions. A trial concert held on March 7 was attended by dozens of learning support students (mainly elementary school students) from Myanmar and Ukraine who regularly study at Support21, as well as life support students (university students), teachers, and families, totaling about 60 people. We will solicit ideas related to music and food from many people that can connect to the future of children in economically difficult situations. Support21 will prepare public relations activities for fundraising. We will select initiators for the implementation of this project and solicit more sympathizers. On March 7, 2026, a startup concert was held as a trial. It will officially commence on May 5, 2026 (Children's Day). The concert on March 7 was reported by Asahi Shimbun (pre-event), Sankei Shimbun (on the day), and TV Tokyo (news on the day). Despite the last-minute publicity, about 15 people from 7 organizations, including local government officials, cultural facilities/halls, and major corporate foundations, attended the briefing session after the event, indicating a high level of interest. Going forward, we will strive to conduct public relations activities to generate interest in Support21's traditional activities as well. From July 24 (Fri) to 26 (Sun), "Kodomo Ongaku Shokudo ~ Supported by WITH HARAJUKU~" will be held jointly with Pacific Philharmonia Tokyo at "WITH HARAJUKU" (1-14-30 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo), a presentation stage where culture and creativity intersect*. Live orchestral performances will color WITH HARAJUKU with rich sounds during the summer vacation season. Future activities of "Kodomo Ongaku Shokudo" will be sequentially published on the Support21 website (https://support21.or.jp/). *The content published is current information and may be subject to change in the future. We kindly ask for your donations from everyone who agrees with the purpose of the "Kodomo Ongaku Shokudo" mentioned above. For more details, please visit the Support21 website (https://support21.or.jp/donation/). For inquiries regarding "Kodomo Ongaku Shokudo," please contact us at: Kodomo Ongaku Shokudo Team (Yanase, Yamazaki) Social Welfare Corporation Support21 6F Mizuho Building, 2-12-2 Kami-Osaki, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 141-0012 Tel: 03-5449-1331 (10:00-18:00 *Excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays) Email: s21kodomo@support21.or.jp ■ About Social Welfare Corporation Support21 Social Welfare Corporation Support21 is an organization that supports the self-reliance of Indochinese refugees, treaty refugees, Chinese returnees, Japanese descendants, and their children residing in Japan. It was established as a social welfare corporation in 1992, taking over the operations of "Association to Aid Indochinese Refugees" (now AAR Japan [Certified NPO Association to Aid Refugees]), which was founded in 1979 with the aim of supporting the settlement of Indochinese refugees in Japan.