First Kansai Area "BORIKI Picture Book Box Party 2026" Held

Asahi Kasei Real Estate Residence Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President and Representative Director: Yasumichi Ichikawa; hereinafter "Asahi Kasei Real Estate Residence") announces that, in collaboration with Mother Industry Newspaper Co., Ltd., it held the "Higashi-Osaka BORIKI Picture Book Box Party" at the Higashi-Osaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Sunday, May 24, 2026. On the day, a total of 550 people, mainly local parents and children, participated, and the venue was bustling with visitors.

■ About the "Higashi-Osaka BORIKI Picture Book Box Party 2026"

This event was held as part of the initiative for the empathy-based rental housing "HeBel Maison BORIKI," aiming to activate healthy communication between parents and children through picture books and promote children's growth. While "BORIKI Picture Book Box Party 2024" and "BORIKI Picture Book Box Party 2025" (*1) were previously held at the Yokohama City Hall Atrium, this event was organized on the occasion of the launch of "BORIKI Higashi-Osaka" (*2) in Higashi-Osaka City in the summer of 2026. This event was carried out as a community-wide effort, with cooperation from local companies and volunteer participation from university professors and students. (Supported by: Higashi-Osaka City, Higashi-Osaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry / Cooperation: Higashi-Osaka City Eiwa Library, Space Development Cooperative SOHLA, Osaka Shoin Women's University, Matsuda Paper Industry, and others)

I. Program Overview (Excerpt)

■ Picture Book Plaza / Picture Book Gacha

A space was prepared where 300 picture books could be freely enjoyed on artificial grass. At the venue, an interactive program using "Mission Gacha" was also implemented. Children selected a picture book according to the theme they drew from the gacha, and when they brought it, they could try the "Reward Gacha." Even with the same theme, the picture books chosen by each child were different, and scenes naturally emerged showing the differences in children's sensibilities and ideas. Through interaction with picture books incorporating play, the joy of choosing and encounters with new stories were born, and the venue was filled with conversations and smiles between parents and children.

■ Storytelling Session by Popular Picture Book Author Shinobu Saito

In the "Storytelling Session" by Shinobu Saito, children participated in the world of the story by raising their voices and helping out through hand games and songs, and the venue was enveloped in a sense of unity. Adults also gathered at the front, enjoying the event alongside the children, creating a time filled with smiles across generations.

■ Drawing a Wrapped Train with Local Higashi-Osaka Picture Book Author Junko Nakarai

Together with Junko Nakarai, children drew their own pictures on drawing paper shaped like train cars, creating an original "wrapped train." The completed cars were lined up and connected by the window, forming a one-of-a-kind train with colorful works linked together. The venue was enveloped in an exciting scene. Finally, the cars were disconnected, and each child took their work home as a souvenir, spreading memories to their families along with their smiles.

II. About HeBel Maison BORIKI

Since its launch in October 2012, the empathy-based rental housing "HeBel Maison BORIKI" has supplied a total of 528 units across 57 buildings, primarily in the Tokyo metropolitan area. In the Kansai area, 39 units across 2 buildings have been developed so far, and an additional 39 units across 4 buildings will be provided from summer to autumn of this year. HeBel Maison BORIKI is located in areas where local governments are focusing on child-rearing support and promoting the settlement of families with children, contributing to the formation of a living environment where families with children can live with peace of mind. Through these initiatives, the company aims to contribute to regional revitalization by creating human connections and vibrancy in the community.

III. Features of HeBel Maison BORIKI

The empathy-based rental housing "HeBel Maison BORIKI" is a rental housing concept designed to address the challenges of families raising children who, while anxious about their first child-rearing experience, have few environments where they can easily seek advice and tend to become isolated due to weak local ties. In its design, emphasis is placed on creating spaces where residents naturally meet and interact. Furthermore, by having the management team regularly engage with residents and create opportunities for interaction, the living environment fosters connections between people in a natural way. By also incorporating loose collaboration with the local community, the aim is to create an environment for raising children not only within the home but together with the community. A key feature of HeBel Maison BORIKI is supporting "child-rearing without going it alone" from the home, allowing residents to share the joys and worries of parenting.