'Hospital is a Planetarium' First-Time Free Slots for 2026 Announced

To the Press April 1, 2026 General Incorporated Association Hoshitsumugi no Mura General Incorporated Association Hoshitsumugi no Mura (located in Hokuto City, Yamanashi Prefecture, Representative Directors: Koichi Atobe / Mariko Takahashi, hereinafter referred to as Hoshitsumugi no Mura), whose mission is "to connect people through stars and create happiness together" by operating planetariums, stargazing events, and workshops on stars and space, has announced that it will provide 80 "first-time free slots" in fiscal year 2026 for its "Hospital is a Planetarium" program. This program delivers the starry sky to children with serious illnesses or disabilities who find it difficult to see the real night sky, and to their families. "Hospital is a Planetarium" is an activity that brings the starry sky to children with long-term hospital stays, intractable diseases, or disabilities, and their siblings and families, using a mobile planetarium. Since 2014, the starry sky has been delivered to approximately 1,130 locations. In lives with many restrictions, this time allows them to find hope in the vast universe and beautiful starry sky, and to feel that they are not alone. The "Hospital is a Planetarium" program targets hospitals, special needs schools, after-school day services, child development support centers, and family groups of sick or disabled children. "First-time free slots" are provided for facilities and organizations that have not yet experienced Hoshitsumugi no Mura's planetarium, and these slots are covered by grants and donations. For fiscal year 2026, 80 free slots will be implemented, and applications are now being accepted again. https://hoshitsumugi.org/news/15713/ ・Mobile Planetarium Hospitals, facilities for people with disabilities, special needs schools, etc.: 146 cases Others: 79 cases ・Flying Planetarium: 17 cases Other activities include independent events (Yamanashi Minna de Planetarium, etc.) and online streaming. ・Hoshitsumugu House: Approximately 90 groups of users ●Iwaya Sazanami Literary Award, Special Prize (2019) ●3rd SDGs Japan Scholarship Iwasa Award (2023) ●Takehiko Kuroda Astronomy and Social Education Promotion Award (2023) ●Astronomy Education and Outreach Award (2024) ●Kobayashi Pharmaceutical Aoi Tori Foundation Commendation (2025) ●Textbook inclusion: Mitsumura Tosho, 6th grade Japanese language, "I Want to Deliver the Starry Sky" by Mariko Takahashi (from the 2024 edition) ・Name: General Incorporated Association Hoshitsumugi no Mura ・Location: 6587-2 Yato, Oizumi-cho, Hokuto City, Yamanashi Prefecture ・Representative Directors: Koichi Atobe / Mariko Takahashi ・Business Activities: With the mission of "connecting people through stars and creating happiness together," we develop planetariums, stargazing events, and workshops on stars and space. ・Established: March 2016 (Legal entity acquired on June 2, 2017) ・URL: https://hoshitsumugi.org