Actress Mayu Tsuruta Endorses 'Cake no WA', a Charity Delivering Birthday Cakes to Children in Need, and Releases Interview Article
Certified NPO Charity Santa announced that actress Mayu Tsuruta has joined the 'Cake no WA' project to deliver birthday cakes to children in impoverished households, publishing an interview emphasizing the importance of celebrating life.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 25, 2026 at 00:02
- 🔍 Collected: April 24, 2026 at 15:32
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 24, 2026 at 23:00 (7h 28m after Collected)
Certified NPO Charity Santa (Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo) announces today that actress Mayu Tsuruta has joined the 'Cake no WA' (Circle of Cake) project as a supporter ahead of her birthday tomorrow, April 25th.
Our organization is working to resolve the 'memory gap' associated with child poverty and family issues. As part of this effort, the 'Share Cake' project uses donations to gift birthday cakes to children in families struggling to celebrate due to financial constraints. The 'Cake no WA' project aims to communicate this social issue broadly and generate public interest by enlisting the cooperation of celebrities. Mayu Tsuruta has now joined as a supporter of this initiative.
In the published interview, Ms. Tsuruta shared her thoughts on birthday celebrations: 'Being congratulated with an "Happy Birthday" from everyone allows you to affirm that "it's a good thing I was born." As you grow up, this leads to a real sense of being loved and personal dignity.' The Cake no WA official website features her interview along with voices from families who have received cakes and information on how to donate.
▼ Cake no WA Official Website
https://sharecake.charity-santa.com/cake-no-wa
▼ Mayu Tsuruta Interview Article
https://sharecake.charity-santa.com/supporter/tsurutamayu/
■ Mayu Tsuruta Profile
Actress. Debuted as an actress in 1988. Active across dramas, movies, stage plays, and commercials. In 1996, she won the Japan Academy Film Prize for Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role for 'Kike, Wadatsumi no Koe' (Listen to the Voices of the Sea). Recently appeared in popular works such as the drama 'Ranman' and the movie 'Angel Flight The Movie'. Prompted by a television program appearance, she was appointed Goodwill Ambassador for the 4th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD IV) in 2008. Author of books including 'Nippon Saiyuki: Kojiki Edition'. She currently engages in cross-genre activities with various artists, expanding her creative endeavors in photography and poetry.
■ What is 'Share Cake'?
'Share Cake' is an activity that delivers a whole birthday cake along with the sentiment 'Thank you for being born' to children in families unable to afford birthday celebrations due to financial reasons. Funded by donations from individuals and corporations, we are building a system to continuously deliver cakes by collaborating with supporting pastry shops and child support organizations. Starting with a test run in Okayama Prefecture in 2021 and gifting 5 cakes in the first month, this circle has now expanded nationwide.
[Nationwide Implementation Status (As of March 2026)]
Cumulative cakes provided: Approx. 17,000
Cooperating pastry shops nationwide: Approx. 80 shops
Target families: Child-rearing households receiving Child Rearing Allowances, School Attendance Assistance, Public Assistance, or in equivalent economic situations.
■ What is 'Cake no WA'?
'Cake no WA' was launched with the primary goal of raising awareness among a broad age group about the less visible social issues behind Share Cake, in cooperation with celebrities. We provide donation options as a way for people to take action and engage with society after learning about the issue through the presence of celebrities.
The project's concept was born when Charity Santa Representative Kiyosuke appeared as a guest on Shingo Murakami's radio program 'Shingo Murakami and Keizai-kun' (Nippon Cultural Broadcasting). Mr. Murakami was subsequently appointed as the Project Leader and also named the project 'Cake no WA'.
■ Voice of a Family that Received a Birthday Cake
'First of all, thank you very much for sending the cake this time. I have never been able to afford such a splendid cake every year and felt so sorry for my children, often just making simple cakes using pancake mix to celebrate, so I honestly cried. I was so happy. My child thought I had bought it and considerately said, "We don't need such an expensive cake!" When I explained that we received it out of someone's kindness this year, they ate it tearfully, savoring every bite. It was so delicious they ate it without speaking. Learning that there are people willing to help, my child said they would also help someone in trouble one day. I have nothing but gratitude. You gave us a very delicious and happy time.'
'Like our family, I believe there are many households struggling with stagnant wages despite rising prices. When facing financial difficulties, we have no choice but to cut back on meals and events. Constantly forcing children to endure compromises means neither parents nor children can be considered physically and mentally healthy. In our home too, when my child talks enviously about "what they have at so-and-so's house," I end up saying, "Our house is different, so it can't be helped!"'
Our organization is working to resolve the 'memory gap' associated with child poverty and family issues. As part of this effort, the 'Share Cake' project uses donations to gift birthday cakes to children in families struggling to celebrate due to financial constraints. The 'Cake no WA' project aims to communicate this social issue broadly and generate public interest by enlisting the cooperation of celebrities. Mayu Tsuruta has now joined as a supporter of this initiative.
In the published interview, Ms. Tsuruta shared her thoughts on birthday celebrations: 'Being congratulated with an "Happy Birthday" from everyone allows you to affirm that "it's a good thing I was born." As you grow up, this leads to a real sense of being loved and personal dignity.' The Cake no WA official website features her interview along with voices from families who have received cakes and information on how to donate.
▼ Cake no WA Official Website
https://sharecake.charity-santa.com/cake-no-wa
▼ Mayu Tsuruta Interview Article
https://sharecake.charity-santa.com/supporter/tsurutamayu/
■ Mayu Tsuruta Profile
Actress. Debuted as an actress in 1988. Active across dramas, movies, stage plays, and commercials. In 1996, she won the Japan Academy Film Prize for Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role for 'Kike, Wadatsumi no Koe' (Listen to the Voices of the Sea). Recently appeared in popular works such as the drama 'Ranman' and the movie 'Angel Flight The Movie'. Prompted by a television program appearance, she was appointed Goodwill Ambassador for the 4th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD IV) in 2008. Author of books including 'Nippon Saiyuki: Kojiki Edition'. She currently engages in cross-genre activities with various artists, expanding her creative endeavors in photography and poetry.
■ What is 'Share Cake'?
'Share Cake' is an activity that delivers a whole birthday cake along with the sentiment 'Thank you for being born' to children in families unable to afford birthday celebrations due to financial reasons. Funded by donations from individuals and corporations, we are building a system to continuously deliver cakes by collaborating with supporting pastry shops and child support organizations. Starting with a test run in Okayama Prefecture in 2021 and gifting 5 cakes in the first month, this circle has now expanded nationwide.
[Nationwide Implementation Status (As of March 2026)]
Cumulative cakes provided: Approx. 17,000
Cooperating pastry shops nationwide: Approx. 80 shops
Target families: Child-rearing households receiving Child Rearing Allowances, School Attendance Assistance, Public Assistance, or in equivalent economic situations.
■ What is 'Cake no WA'?
'Cake no WA' was launched with the primary goal of raising awareness among a broad age group about the less visible social issues behind Share Cake, in cooperation with celebrities. We provide donation options as a way for people to take action and engage with society after learning about the issue through the presence of celebrities.
The project's concept was born when Charity Santa Representative Kiyosuke appeared as a guest on Shingo Murakami's radio program 'Shingo Murakami and Keizai-kun' (Nippon Cultural Broadcasting). Mr. Murakami was subsequently appointed as the Project Leader and also named the project 'Cake no WA'.
■ Voice of a Family that Received a Birthday Cake
'First of all, thank you very much for sending the cake this time. I have never been able to afford such a splendid cake every year and felt so sorry for my children, often just making simple cakes using pancake mix to celebrate, so I honestly cried. I was so happy. My child thought I had bought it and considerately said, "We don't need such an expensive cake!" When I explained that we received it out of someone's kindness this year, they ate it tearfully, savoring every bite. It was so delicious they ate it without speaking. Learning that there are people willing to help, my child said they would also help someone in trouble one day. I have nothing but gratitude. You gave us a very delicious and happy time.'
'Like our family, I believe there are many households struggling with stagnant wages despite rising prices. When facing financial difficulties, we have no choice but to cut back on meals and events. Constantly forcing children to endure compromises means neither parents nor children can be considered physically and mentally healthy. In our home too, when my child talks enviously about "what they have at so-and-so's house," I end up saying, "Our house is different, so it can't be helped!"'