[Participants Wanted, June 4] "Gokigen Project" Results Report Meeting to Unravel the Value of Community Places [Application Deadline May 27]
Certified NPO National Children's Cafeteria Support Center Musubie will hold an online results report meeting for the "Gokigen Project" on June 4, supported by Mitsubishi Corporation. This project investigated how community places like children's cafeterias contribute to people's well-being and regional sustainability.
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- 📰 Published: May 7, 2026 at 22:00
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Certified NPO National Children's Cafeteria Support Center Musubie (located in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, Chairperson: Rie Mishima), which aims to realize a society where no one is left behind through supporting children's cafeterias, will hold an online "Gokigen Project" Results Report Meeting to unravel the value of community places on Thursday, June 4.
The "Gokigen Project" is a research study aimed at clarifying how community "places," such as children's cafeterias, generate well-being ("gokigen") for people and regions. It was jointly conducted by Musubie and Blue Marble Japan Inc. for three years from FY2023 to FY2025, with the support of Mitsubishi Corporation.
The survey was conducted in four regions with different local characteristics: Nagoya City, Kurobe City in Toyama Prefecture, Gojome Town in Akita Prefecture, and Nishiawakura Village in Okayama Prefecture, combining questionnaires, interviews, workshops, and participatory observation.
As a result of analysis focusing on three questions: "Why do people gather in these places?", "What happens in these places?", and "What is the impact of these places on the community?", it was found that these places are psychologically safe environments created by a cycle of "giving," fostering trust through interactions beyond roles. These human relationships in community places expand to mutual aid throughout the community, regenerating social capital. Consequently, it became clear that community places function as indispensable "social infrastructure" supporting regional sustainability in a depopulating society.
At the results report meeting, we aim to widely disseminate this knowledge and these achievements to society, while also encouraging diverse stakeholders involved in community places to re-recognize their functions and roles, and to foster momentum for practicing community development that views these places as social infrastructure. Initiatives in the four regions will also be introduced, and a panel discussion by survey collaborators from each region (moderator: Musubie Public Policy Advisor, Makoto Yuasa) will be held.
We look forward to the participation of many people, including organizations and private businesses working on creating community places, intermediate support organizations and social welfare councils supporting community place creation, government officials in charge of community place policies, operators of community places, and those interested in community place creation.
◆ Event Outline
Organizer: Certified NPO National Children's Cafeteria Support Center Musubie
Cooperation: Blue Marble Japan Inc.
Project Support Company: Mitsubishi Corporation
Date and Time: Thursday, June 4, 2026, 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM (2 hours)
Format: Online distribution via Zoom
Participation Fee: Free
Application: Please pre-register via the URL below
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSexdVtvAFIuUkB-I0dQpZsTFhtXV6P8qc31Vz7MtNUFrbCozg/viewform
Application Deadline: Wednesday, May 27
◆ Program
Opening remarks
Overview of results
Introduction of initiatives in each region
Panel Discussion 1 ~Community Places for Individuals~
Panel Discussion 2 ~Community Places for the Region~
Q&A
Closing remarks
【What is a Children's Cafeteria?】
Regardless of names such as community cafeteria or everyone's home, it is a free or low-cost cafeteria where children can come alone safely. They are operated spontaneously in various locations, mostly by volunteers, and serve as "everyone's place" where people of all ages, centered around children, interact through food. They also contribute to community revitalization, improving the well-being of the elderly, and addressing issues such as loneliness, isolation, and poverty. Although there is no institutional backing, it has been revealed that there are 12,602 locations (confirmed value for 2025) (Reference: Approximately 20,000 elementary schools, 10,000 junior high schools, and 4,000 children's centers nationwide).
"What Children's Cafeterias value / What they want to continue to value"
https://musubie.org/precious/
【Certified NPO National Children's Cafeteria Support Center Musubie】
Representative: Chairperson Rie Mishima Established: December 2018 (Certified NPO status obtained in May 2021)
HP: https://musubie.org/
Musubie's vision is "to create a society where no one is left behind through supporting children's cafeterias." They work to create an environment where children's cafeterias are available everywhere nationwide and everyone can visit with peace of mind, and to enable many people to participate in social activities through children's cafeterias. Specifically, they provide support to regional network organizations that support children's cafeterias, collaborate with companies and organizations that wish to contribute to society, conduct surveys and research to clarify the actual situation of children's cafeterias, and engage in awareness-raising activities for children's cafeterias through these efforts. Furthermore, to ensure safe and secure operation on site.
The "Gokigen Project" is a research study aimed at clarifying how community "places," such as children's cafeterias, generate well-being ("gokigen") for people and regions. It was jointly conducted by Musubie and Blue Marble Japan Inc. for three years from FY2023 to FY2025, with the support of Mitsubishi Corporation.
The survey was conducted in four regions with different local characteristics: Nagoya City, Kurobe City in Toyama Prefecture, Gojome Town in Akita Prefecture, and Nishiawakura Village in Okayama Prefecture, combining questionnaires, interviews, workshops, and participatory observation.
As a result of analysis focusing on three questions: "Why do people gather in these places?", "What happens in these places?", and "What is the impact of these places on the community?", it was found that these places are psychologically safe environments created by a cycle of "giving," fostering trust through interactions beyond roles. These human relationships in community places expand to mutual aid throughout the community, regenerating social capital. Consequently, it became clear that community places function as indispensable "social infrastructure" supporting regional sustainability in a depopulating society.
At the results report meeting, we aim to widely disseminate this knowledge and these achievements to society, while also encouraging diverse stakeholders involved in community places to re-recognize their functions and roles, and to foster momentum for practicing community development that views these places as social infrastructure. Initiatives in the four regions will also be introduced, and a panel discussion by survey collaborators from each region (moderator: Musubie Public Policy Advisor, Makoto Yuasa) will be held.
We look forward to the participation of many people, including organizations and private businesses working on creating community places, intermediate support organizations and social welfare councils supporting community place creation, government officials in charge of community place policies, operators of community places, and those interested in community place creation.
◆ Event Outline
Organizer: Certified NPO National Children's Cafeteria Support Center Musubie
Cooperation: Blue Marble Japan Inc.
Project Support Company: Mitsubishi Corporation
Date and Time: Thursday, June 4, 2026, 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM (2 hours)
Format: Online distribution via Zoom
Participation Fee: Free
Application: Please pre-register via the URL below
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSexdVtvAFIuUkB-I0dQpZsTFhtXV6P8qc31Vz7MtNUFrbCozg/viewform
Application Deadline: Wednesday, May 27
◆ Program
Opening remarks
Overview of results
Introduction of initiatives in each region
Panel Discussion 1 ~Community Places for Individuals~
Panel Discussion 2 ~Community Places for the Region~
Q&A
Closing remarks
【What is a Children's Cafeteria?】
Regardless of names such as community cafeteria or everyone's home, it is a free or low-cost cafeteria where children can come alone safely. They are operated spontaneously in various locations, mostly by volunteers, and serve as "everyone's place" where people of all ages, centered around children, interact through food. They also contribute to community revitalization, improving the well-being of the elderly, and addressing issues such as loneliness, isolation, and poverty. Although there is no institutional backing, it has been revealed that there are 12,602 locations (confirmed value for 2025) (Reference: Approximately 20,000 elementary schools, 10,000 junior high schools, and 4,000 children's centers nationwide).
"What Children's Cafeterias value / What they want to continue to value"
https://musubie.org/precious/
【Certified NPO National Children's Cafeteria Support Center Musubie】
Representative: Chairperson Rie Mishima Established: December 2018 (Certified NPO status obtained in May 2021)
HP: https://musubie.org/
Musubie's vision is "to create a society where no one is left behind through supporting children's cafeterias." They work to create an environment where children's cafeterias are available everywhere nationwide and everyone can visit with peace of mind, and to enable many people to participate in social activities through children's cafeterias. Specifically, they provide support to regional network organizations that support children's cafeterias, collaborate with companies and organizations that wish to contribute to society, conduct surveys and research to clarify the actual situation of children's cafeterias, and engage in awareness-raising activities for children's cafeterias through these efforts. Furthermore, to ensure safe and secure operation on site.