Support21 Holds 'Kodomo Ongaku Shokudo' at Edogawa Futaba Kindergarten

Social Welfare Corporation Support21 (Chairperson: Shinzo Araragi, Professor Emeritus at Sophia University) held the 'Kodomo Ongaku Shokudo' (Children's Music Cafeteria) event at Edogawa Futaba Kindergarten (Principal: So Sugawara) on Thursday, June 4, 2026.

The 'Kodomo Ongaku Shokudo' is a project primarily targeting children who have limited opportunities to experience the arts, providing performances by professional orchestra members along with light meals. This initiative was launched by Support21 in the 2026 fiscal year, with Mr. Yoichi Hino, Representative Director of Silverbacks Principal Co., Ltd., as the founder, and is carried out in collaboration with the Pacific Philharmonia Tokyo (Chairperson: Tadamasa Fukiura).

On the day of the event, prior to the concert, Principal Sugawara of Edogawa Futaba Kindergarten gave a greeting, and Mr. Masahiko Hochi, Vice President of Silverbacks Principal Co., Ltd., which provided special sponsorship for the project, spoke about the appeal of orchestral music.

The concert featured a string quartet by members of the Pacific Philharmonia Tokyo, along with flute and percussion instruments. Over 100 children gathered at Edogawa Futaba Kindergarten were gradually drawn into the classical and anime music played before them, with a heartwarming scene of them creeping closer to the musicians' feet. Principal Sugawara of Edogawa Futaba Kindergarten commented, 'Most children don't usually have the chance to experience classical music. Seeing unfamiliar instruments up close and feeling their sounds and performances was a very enriching experience for them.'

The concert program consisted of the following:

Snare performance / Bolero / Instrument introduction using 'Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star Variations'

'A Town with an Ocean View' (from 'Kiki's Delivery Service') / Minuet (from 'L'Arlésienne')

'Sanpo' (from 'My Neighbor Totoro') / 'Boyoyon March' (encore)

At the end of the event, a percussion workshop was held, and popular treats like chocolate and gummy candies were given to the children. During the percussion workshop, the children held sticks and actually played the drums, experiencing the joy of music. This provided an opportunity to deepen their interest in music, not just by listening to professional performances but also by touching the instruments themselves.

At Edogawa Futaba Kindergarten, where the concert was held, approximately 10% of the children have foreign roots. Support21 aims to realize a society where all children have the opportunity to engage with culture and the arts, and will continue to expand the 'Kodomo Ongaku Shokudo' initiative to eliminate experiential disparities.