Welcia Yakkyoku to Hold 'Children's Gathering Festival in Ichihara' on May 10th

Welcia Yakkyoku Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President: Junichi Tanaka) announces that it will hold the "Children's Gathering Festival in Ichihara" on May 10th as an event supporting the Children and Families Agency's "Spring Child-Centric Month" and "Child-Centric Child Welfare Week." Since 2023, Welcia Yakkyoku has held this festival every spring at the Welcia Communication Center Ichihara (Welcomu), located on the 2nd floor of the Welcia Ichihara Kokubunjidai store. The event is organized in collaboration with Ichihara City, the NPO Ichihara Citizen Activity Council, and the Children's Learning and Gathering Network Ichihara to promote places for children and youth in the city. This year, the collaboration has expanded to include partner companies, children's place-making coordinators, and universities. Furthermore, a representative from the Children and Families Agency will speak during the talk session about the latest national trends and expectations for regional initiatives regarding child and youth spaces. Last year, 250 elementary and junior high school students from Ichihara City and their guardians participated. This year, a large turnout is expected again. Anyone, including those from outside Ichihara City, can join. Applications can be made directly at the venue on the day of the event. 10:30–12:30 [Talk Session] 1. Introduction of Children's Place-making Coordinators 2. Introduction of Children and Families Agency Initiatives 3. Introduction of Child-Centric Actions 4. Panel Discussion: "Potential of the New Welcomu with a Clinic" 5. Relay Talk by Exhibitors 13:00–16:00 [Various Experience Sessions] - Multipurpose Room 1: Experience Corner (Mölkky, workshops, etc.) - Multipurpose Room 2: New Learning Corner (University experience corners, Metaverse space experience, group photo booth, bento sales by local organizations, etc.) - Multipurpose Room 3: Storytelling booth and children's play area Welcia Yakkyoku is working toward realizing a "city where no one is left behind" and serving as an infrastructure providing safety and security to the community, based on the "Sustainability Basic Policy" established in November 2021. Through regional cooperation such as utilizing the "Welcafe" community space and the "Uetan-go" mobile sales vehicle, the company promotes local welfare, health, and intergenerational exchange. Welcia Group aims to become the "Region's No. 1 Health Station" by 2030. Date: Sunday, May 10, 2026, 10:30–16:00 Venue: Welcomu (2nd floor of Welcia Ichihara Kokubunjidai store, 4-1-1 Minami Kokubunjidai, Ichihara, Chiba) Organizers: Welcomu (Ichihara City, Welcia Yakkyoku, NPO Ichihara Citizen Activity Council) Co-organizers: Children's Learning and Gathering Network Ichihara, Children's Place-making Coordinators Supporters: Ichihara City Board of Education Cooperators: Otsuka Pharmaceutical, Kanro, Meiji, Morinaga, etc.