Leveraging the Power of “Likes” and “Support” to Help Children in Difficult Situations. Aiming to Realize Japan's Largest Gaming & Esports x Charity Event.

We endorse April Dream, which aims to make April 1st a day for announcing dreams. This press release is a dream of Certified NPO Good Neighbors Japan (GNJP).

Leveraging the Power of Support to Change the World. Towards a Japan Where This is Commonplace.

In recent years, the culture of streaming, gaming, esports, and supporting "oshi" (favorite idols/characters) has moved many hearts, creating new connections and communities with great power. People connect through streaming, feelings of support spread, and someone's activities are sustained—such positive energy has come to hold a definite presence in society.

Meanwhile, globally, countless children are in difficult situations due to poverty, conflict, and the effects of climate change such as drought and cyclone damage. Many of these situations are not related to the children's own efforts or choices, but are determined by their birthplace or social environment. Currently, over 400 million children worldwide live in extreme poverty, lacking sufficient food and educational opportunities. (Source: UNICEF & World Bank, 2024) Moreover, poverty is not just an overseas issue. Domestically, the child poverty rate is 11.5%, and among single-parent households, it is 44.5%, meaning nearly half are in relative poverty. (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, 2022 National Livelihood Survey)

Certified NPO Good Neighbors Japan has addressed these issues through food support for single-parent families in Japan, "Good Gohan," as well as education and livelihood improvement support for children overseas, and emergency aid for refugees fleeing conflict.

A refugee family smiling as a baby goat is born through livestock support (Somali Region, Ethiopia, photographed September 2025)

Distributing food to single-parent families at a "Good Gohan" event

The "power of support" and "joy of enjoyment" spreading from recent streaming, gaming, esports, and "oshi-katsu." We want to connect this to the field of support.

From the power of enjoying what you love and supporting your "oshi," charity that changes the world is born, supporting the future of children living in distant places—we aim to make such a new form of support commonplace in Japan.

Diversity and Potential: Why "Gaming/Esports x Charity"?

The world of gaming/esports has an open appeal and diversity where individuality is respected, and everyone, regardless of age, gender, or nationality, can shine on the same field. We believe that precisely because it is such an open space, people can empathize with others' situations, transcending differences in background and position. We feel that a new form of charity can emerge here.

A Solid Step: Potential Seen from Practice

We will not let this potential end as a mere dream.

Overseas, numerous large-scale charity events have been held, originating from esports communities, contributing to the solution of various social issues through the participation of many people. Based on these movements, we have been preparing by conducting extensive research with esports stakeholders both domestically and internationally. This March, we participated in a major "Street Fighter 6" esports tournament held in Hiroshima and cooperated in a charity match as a sub-event, where a donation was made for each play. By actually being on site and experiencing the community's enthusiasm, we felt firsthand moments where "enjoyment" and "support" could coexist naturally. Our next challenge is to connect this power not as a temporary phenomenon, but as a continuous mechanism to improve society.

Scenes from the final tournament of the esports event held in Hiroshima

The charity match venue for the sub-event, bustling with participants

Our Approach to Support: Support Leading to Self-Reliance

Good Neighbors Japan's support activities are not "endless support" but "support leading to self-reliance." The issues faced by single-parent families in Japan struggling with sufficient food, and the challenges in conflict-ridden and impoverished regions overseas, are not problems that can be solved in a single day. In our food support "Good Gohan" and overseas education and livelihood improvement support, we value building a foundation that quietly supports the path to self-reliance, ensuring that the process is not interrupted by continuously providing inconspicuous but essential "preparations" such as teaching materials, training, and appropriate communication. The sentiments entrusted to us by everyone become the power that supports these sure steps.

What We Ask of You: Together, Let's Expand a New Form of Charity

We are serious about bringing this new form of charity to more people. To do so, the power of streamers and VTubers, who have moved many hearts, as well as viewers, is indispensable.

・Charity challenges and collaboration projects

・Development and sales cooperation for charity goods and digital items

・Other collaborations to create new forms of support

There is more than one way to get involved.

The actions of "enjoying" and "supporting your oshi" transform into tangible hope for someone in need. We want to realize such a new form of charity with all of you.

If you resonate with this vision, please let us hear your voice.

About the Organization

Good Neighbors Japan is a certified non-profit organization established in 2004 as part of the international organization Good Neighbors International. It aims to create a society where children smile and everyone can live with dignity, providing support for children both domestically and internationally. It is recognized by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government as a "Certified NPO," a highly public-interest organization.

https://www.gnjp.org/