Towards a Society Where 30,000 Hikikomori and Truants Can Be Supported Nationwide, Always

※Our company supports April Dream, which aims to make April 1st a day to announce dreams. This press release is the dream of "Good Life Japan General Incorporated Association."

Our dream is to create a society across Japan where people who are isolated and unable to connect with others or society, such as hikikomori or truants, can find "visiting support" in their local communities.

Currently, Japan is estimated to have 1.46 million hikikomori and over 350,000 truant children. While there are many places and employment support programs nationwide for hikikomori and truants, a bridge is needed to connect those in isolation to such support. However, there are only a handful of support workers nationwide who can visit and conduct outreach to those who "don't want to meet" or "can't go for consultation."

We want to change this situation.

[Background of the Dream | "Hundreds of people" is simply not enough]

We, Good Life Japan General Incorporated Association (5573 Egusa, Sutama-cho, Hokuto City, Yamanashi Prefecture; Representative Director: Shiro Kawata), have been continuously working to connect hikikomori and truant individuals with society, primarily through "visiting-type support that goes to those who cannot be met."

We constantly support 30 people with visiting assistance, and approximately 80% of those who receive support recover their connection to society. We also place importance on counseling for parents, not just the individuals themselves.

However, given the scale of the issue across Japan, the number of people our organization alone can support is limited to "hundreds." This is far from enough.

[Our Vision for the Future | "Support 30 people consistently in each municipality"]

Therefore, we envision a dream: to establish a system in each municipality nationwide capable of "consistently supporting 30 people with visiting assistance."

This can be achieved if about 10 people capable of visiting are available in each municipality. For example, if about 10 staff members from welfare and health departments are involved in a "concurrent" capacity, 30 people can be supported.

Also, if there are dedicated staff members, it is realistically possible for one person to continuously support 10 people, and 3 dedicated staff members could support 30 people.

If this could be implemented in 1,000 municipalities, it would lead to support for approximately 30,000 people annually.

[To Realize the Dream | Making Know-How a "Social Asset"]

Our dream is to change the structure where "there is support know-how, but no one to carry it out." We challenge ourselves to systematize and spread the knowledge we have cultivated on the ground, without hoarding it.

We will share our know-how on visiting and outreach support through training and lectures to local governments and support organizations, taking one step at a time towards "building a system capable of consistently supporting 30 people in each municipality."

[Another Dream | Towards a Society Where Parents Don't Bear the Burden Alone]

We have another strong wish.

It is to expand places where parents of hikikomori and truant children can feel safe to consult and learn.

When a child becomes hikikomori or truant, parents often face guilt and negative comments, leading to isolation. There are also cases where parents continue to "believe and watch over" their child for 20 years without taking action.

However, we have experienced through our support that reality can change by altering the way one interacts and the environment.

By expanding one-on-one counseling for parents and "parent groups leading to solutions" where parents can learn from each other nationwide, we aim to create a virtuous cycle where "parents change, families change, and individuals feel at ease."

On April 1st, we declare our dream.

It may not come true immediately. But we have a future we seriously aim for.

"A society where hikikomori and truant individuals, no matter where they live, can encounter 'visiting support'."

We hope to meet local governments, administrative bodies, and collaborators who resonate with this dream and are willing to think and work together with us.

◆Good Life Japan General Incorporated Association

Address: 5573 Egusa, Sutama-cho, Hokuto City, Yamanashi Prefecture

Established: December 2020 (Incorporated March 2025)

Representative Director: Shiro Kawata

Website: https://www.goodlifejapan.org

Business Activities: Support services for hikikomori individuals

◇Hikikomori visiting support and accompanying outings

◇Training and lectures for hikikomori support workers and government officials

◇Planning and operation of the Yamanashi Hikikomori Information Portal "Yamahipo"

◇Management of the shared space "Oka no Ie"