NPO Commonbeat Selected for Suntory's 'You Are Unlimited' Fund

NPO Commonbeat (headquartered in Shibuya, Tokyo; Representative Director: Ryo Adachi, hereinafter 'Commonbeat') announces its selection for the 'Suntory "You Are Unlimited" Fund,' a grant program implemented by Suntory Holdings Corporation.

With this selection, Commonbeat will expand its existing initiative, 'Cultivating Children Who Choose Their Own Paths in Life Through Expressive Education,' to reach more adolescents across a broader geographical area. Leveraging 22 years of expertise in community musical theater, the organization will further develop environments where children can express themselves while interacting with others, and strengthen community-based support systems for youth.

Overview of the Selected Project: Delivering Expressive Arts Programs Through Song, Dance, and Dialogue

This project delivers body-based expressive arts programs—such as singing, dancing, and dialogue—to communities nationwide, targeting adolescents.

Project Name: Cultivating Children Who Choose Their Own Paths in Life Through Expressive Education Grant Period: July 2026 – June 2028 (2 years) Target: Adolescents and their local communities

Implementation Details:

Creating Opportunities for Self-Expression and Collaboration: Through expressive activities like singing, dancing, and dialogue, the program provides safe spaces where children can openly share their emotions and individuality. Drawing on Commonbeat’s 22-year expertise in enhancing psychological safety within group settings, the program enables each participant to contribute authentically while collaboratively creating a shared performance with peers.

Training Local Facilitators: To support children’s activities, the project will train diverse local adults to serve as facilitators for expressive arts programs. By establishing accessible, supportive spaces beyond school and home, the initiative aims to naturally connect children with their communities across Japan.

Two-Year Goals: Implement the program in four regions (Kanto, Chubu, Kansai, Kyushu) and train local facilitators nationwide.

About the 'Suntory "You Are Unlimited" Fund'

Established by Suntory Holdings Corporation, this grant program aims to support NPOs and similar organizations that sincerely engage with adolescents and empower every individual to pursue their challenges. The fund is rooted in the vision of creating a society where all children, regardless of their upbringing or circumstances, can unlock their potential.

List of Selected Organizations: Grantees | You Are Unlimited | Suntory

Background of the Project: Declining Experience Opportunities and the 'Experience Gap'

Adolescence is a crucial period for growth, during which young people explore their identities and ways of relating to others. However, with the widespread use of AI and social media, opportunities for encountering diverse people and engaging in physical expression or collaboration within schools and communities have decreased.

Additionally, due to budget and staffing constraints in public schools, opportunities for arts appreciation and expressive activities within educational institutions are also declining. Furthermore, disparities in experiential opportunities—referred to as the 'experience gap'—are widening due to factors like family environment (※). In particular, expressive activities such as theater and dance have fewer providers compared to sports or nature-based experiences, resulting in limited access.

In school settings, evaluation and comparison are often emphasized, making it difficult for children to freely express their true emotions. Commonbeat believes that delivering dialogue and expressive experiences at the community level can expand future possibilities for both local societies and children, and thus aims to extend this initiative to more regions across Japan.

※ References:

MEXT, 'Survey and Research on Promoting Experiential Activities for Youth' (2021)

公益社団法人チャンス・フォー・チルドレン (Chance for Children), 'Survey on the Reality of Experience Gaps Among Children' (2023)

Statement from Project Lead (Ryuki Kawamura, Director of Expressive Education)

Through our long-running '100 People 100 Days Musical®' program, we have created spaces where diverse citizens acknowledge their differences and work together toward a common goal. Interacting with adult participants and being exposed to diverse ways of living allows children to become aware of their own emotions and values through real experiences and expression, helping them make repeated choices that foster personal agency. With this grant, we aim to extend these opportunities more widely to adolescents who may struggle with self-acceptance or envisioning their future.

About NPO Commonbeat

Guided by the vision of 'a society where individuality resonates,' Commonbeat centers its activities on the '100 People 100 Days Musical® Program.' Now in its 22nd year since establishment, approximately 8,000 people have participated in its programs, and performances have attracted over 275,000 audience members. The organization conducts co-creative cultural activities with local communities across Japan.

<Organization Overview>

Established: March 11, 2004

Representative Director: Ryo Adachi

Headquarters: Shibuya, Tokyo

Official Website: https://commonbeat.org/