Event Overview **Event Name:** Play Care Forum for Sick Children 2026 — Providing "Spiritual Nutrition" Through Play **Date:** Sunday, May 31, 2026, 10:00 AM – 4:20 PM (Networking session: 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM) **Venue:** National Olympic Memorial Youth Center (3-1 Yoyogi Kamizono-cho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo) **Capacity:** 500 participants **Admission:** General: 4,000 yen / Member: 3,000 yen / Student: 1,000 yen

Organizers and Supporters - **Organizer:** Association of Art and Play Creation / Tokyo Toy Museum (Certified NPO) - **Co-organizer:** Network for Supporting Children with Intractable Diseases - **Support:** Japanese Association of Occupational Therapists - **Grant:** The Nippon Foundation

Registration Please apply through the official website: [https://asobinomushi.net/?p=575](https://asobinomushi.net/?p=575)

Background For children, 'play' is an essential part of growth. This remains true for children with severe disabilities or illnesses requiring constant care. For 30 years, the Association of Art and Play Creation has promoted the slogan 'Every child gets absorbed in the play they love' through its support activities for sick children. Since 2020, with support from The Nippon Foundation, the association has produced 'Asobi no Mushi,' a curated set of toys, and donated them to 360 facilities nationwide. This forum brings together practitioners, medical professionals, and caregivers from across the country to share on-site expertise.

Program Highlights ### General Session (10:00 AM – 12:30 PM) - **Talk Session 1:** Providing Spiritual Nutrition through Play for Sick Children and Everyone Involved. Speaker: Shin Yamada (Director, Tokyo Toy Museum) and others. - **Talk Session 2:** Future of Play Support for Sick Children. Special Guest: Mari Hoshino (Actress, Founder of "Wappo") and others. ### Experiential & Exchange Programs (1:30 PM – 4:20 PM) - Booths for play experiences, juggling performers, and street performance workshops. - 'Asobi no Mushi' toy square (Hands-on experience). - 'Practice Presentation Relay' for play support in medical settings (7-minute format). ### Subcommittees (8 Themes, 2 Sessions) - Healthcare professionals entering the community. - Play support in hospitals: Exploring significance and practice. - Developmental care through play: Considerations from the 'fun' perspective. - Family support: New forms of support for siblings and parents. - Specialized care for children with severe physical and mental disabilities.

FACT BOX

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  • Category: Event