A Safe Place to Stay Near 'Gurishita'. Crowdfunding Launched to Continue Operating the 'Youth Center'
Certified NPO D×P has started a crowdfunding campaign on READYFOR to raise operating funds for a Youth Center supporting isolated youths in Dotonbori, Osaka.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 7, 2026 at 19:30
- 🔍 Collected: April 7, 2026 at 11:00
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 20, 2026 at 22:59 (323h 59m after Collected)
Certified NPO D×P (Chuo-ku, Osaka; Chairman: Noriaki Imai; hereinafter referred to as D×P), which supports isolated youths, will be collecting support on the crowdfunding service 'READYFOR' for the fiscal year 2026 operating costs of the 'Youth Center'. This center supports youths without a place to stay who gather around Dotonbori, Osaka (commonly known as Gurishita), and the campaign will run from Tuesday, April 7 to Friday, May 29, 2026.
Project URL: https://readyfor.jp/projects/dxp-youthcenter-2026spring
Youths who have lost their place at home or school due to abuse or financial hardship are gathering via social media in the area commonly known as 'Gurishita', under the Glico sign in Minami, Osaka's Dotonbori. On the other hand, many harbor distrust towards adults and support agencies due to past experiences, and often do not connect with welfare or medical support, resulting in a higher risk of getting involved in crimes or financial trouble. According to a D×P survey, about 46% of Youth Center users do not feel they have a place at home, and 33.8% are in 'unstable living conditions', moving between hotels and friends' houses. While there are voices viewing Gurishita as dangerous, what is truly 'dangerous' is not the gathered youths themselves, but the environment devoid of watching adults or reliable figures, and the crimes approaching them.
In response to this situation, D×P began local outreach activities in 2022. Currently, we operate a Youth Center located a 5-minute walk from Gurishita, providing a space where youths can spend time freely. The Youth Center provides meals, resting/napping spaces, counseling/accompaniment support (medical, administrative, etc.), and hands-on support regarding daily life and employment. Its key feature is being a 'space that doesn't require support as a premise'. It is designed so that the individuals can choose how they spend their time, including whether they want to talk or not. The Youth Center has been used by over 10,000 individuals so far. There are cases where youths who used the center once return to report on their current status after their lives have stabilized.
Through this project, we aim not only to provide temporary shelter but to strengthen its function as a transit point (safety net) where youths can store energy and connect to social resources like medical and administrative services. 'Providing safety and opportunities, rather than taking away their space'. By continuing to present this model from the private sector, we aim to eventually influence administrative measures and policy proposals, changing the very structure of isolation in entertainment districts.
■ Crowdfunding Project Overview
- Title: 'Providing a safe place for 5,000 youths a year in the danger-adjacent Gurishita'
- URL: https://readyfor.jp/projects/dxp-youthcenter-2026spring
Project URL: https://readyfor.jp/projects/dxp-youthcenter-2026spring
Youths who have lost their place at home or school due to abuse or financial hardship are gathering via social media in the area commonly known as 'Gurishita', under the Glico sign in Minami, Osaka's Dotonbori. On the other hand, many harbor distrust towards adults and support agencies due to past experiences, and often do not connect with welfare or medical support, resulting in a higher risk of getting involved in crimes or financial trouble. According to a D×P survey, about 46% of Youth Center users do not feel they have a place at home, and 33.8% are in 'unstable living conditions', moving between hotels and friends' houses. While there are voices viewing Gurishita as dangerous, what is truly 'dangerous' is not the gathered youths themselves, but the environment devoid of watching adults or reliable figures, and the crimes approaching them.
In response to this situation, D×P began local outreach activities in 2022. Currently, we operate a Youth Center located a 5-minute walk from Gurishita, providing a space where youths can spend time freely. The Youth Center provides meals, resting/napping spaces, counseling/accompaniment support (medical, administrative, etc.), and hands-on support regarding daily life and employment. Its key feature is being a 'space that doesn't require support as a premise'. It is designed so that the individuals can choose how they spend their time, including whether they want to talk or not. The Youth Center has been used by over 10,000 individuals so far. There are cases where youths who used the center once return to report on their current status after their lives have stabilized.
Through this project, we aim not only to provide temporary shelter but to strengthen its function as a transit point (safety net) where youths can store energy and connect to social resources like medical and administrative services. 'Providing safety and opportunities, rather than taking away their space'. By continuing to present this model from the private sector, we aim to eventually influence administrative measures and policy proposals, changing the very structure of isolation in entertainment districts.
■ Crowdfunding Project Overview
- Title: 'Providing a safe place for 5,000 youths a year in the danger-adjacent Gurishita'
- URL: https://readyfor.jp/projects/dxp-youthcenter-2026spring