When 42,000 Children Find Homes, We Will End This Activity. #AprilDream

The Certified NPO Japan Child Support Association (Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture, Representative Director: Shinobu Iwachasa) endorses "April Dream," an initiative to make April 1st a day to share dreams.

This press release is not an April Fool's lie. This is our serious dream.

## [Declaration of Dream]

"A home for every child."

A "home" is not just a place with a roof and food.
It's a place where someone says "welcome home."
A place where you can be yourself, even if you cry or get angry.
A place that teaches you with its very being to believe in tomorrow.

To create a society where all children grow up in such a place.
That is our dream.

And the day that dream comes true—
the day when all 42,000 children living in Japan receive a home—
on that day, we will quietly bring this activity to a close.

That is the April Dream of the Japan Child Support Association.

## [Current Situation: Even at this moment, children are spending the night outside a home]

Look at the numbers.

Situation, Number, Source
Number of children who cannot live with their parents, 42,000 people, Child and Family Agency (Reiwa 7 / 2025)
Percentage of those who grow up in institutions, Approximately 75%, Child and Family Agency (stated as "approx. 80%")
Foster parent placement rate (national average), Approximately 25% (25.1%), Child and Family Agency (as of end of March, Reiwa 6 / 2024)
Annual child abuse consultation cases, 223,691 cases, Child and Family Agency (Reiwa 6 fiscal year / 2024)

42,000 people.

Each one has a name,
favorite foods,
and a desire to meet someone.

Approximately 75% of those children will sleep in an institution tonight.

Among developed countries worldwide, there are very few where so many children grow up in institutions.

Japan is significantly behind in the spread of "family-based care."

Only 1 out of 4 children are placed with foster parents nationwide.
In some municipalities, it is less than 1 out of 10.

Child abuse consultation cases exceeded 223,691 in Reiwa 6 fiscal year alone.
Once a week, a child loses their life due to abuse. Half of them are infants under 1 year old.

This is not the responsibility of any one person.
It is just that society as a whole has not yet realized it.

## [Our Mission]

"Increase foster families, support foster parents,
and deliver love to all children in their daily lives."

Becoming a foster parent is not something only special people can do.

However, it is difficult after becoming one.
Administrative support is insufficient, and foster parents who feel isolated are constantly appearing.

That is why we are working on "increasing the number of foster parents" and "supporting foster parents" as two wheels of a single vehicle.

## [Message from the Representative Director: The honest feelings of a foster parent after 16 years]

Shinobu Iwachasa, Representative Director, Certified NPO Japan Child Support Association

"This year, I have been a foster parent for 16 years.

In Japan, becoming a foster parent itself is surprisingly easy.
However, there is almost no training or support after becoming one.
I myself was driven to tears in many situations.

I have always held back from asking for help.

But I will stop now.

For the sake of the children, for the sake of foster parents, I will raise my voice.
I will show my tears. I will change society.

We will not hold back until all 42,000 children receive a home."

## [Three Actions Towards the Dream]

🧡 To be known ── ONE LOVE Campaign

"We support your courage to become a foster parent."

The "ONE LOVE" campaign, ongoing since 2016, involves distributing heart-shaped flyers across Japan every year on October 4th, "Foster Parent Day."

To reach those who do not yet know the term "foster parent."

The cumulative number of distributed flyers exceeds 447,000 (※Association confirming), and an online community now gathers over 1,200 members from 47 prefectures (※Latest figures confirming with the association).

Whether you are a foster parent, someone who supports foster parents, or someone interested in foster parenting.
We continue to create a place where people can feel "they are not alone."

🟠 To rise up ── ORANGE WALK

This is a charity walking event where participants wear "orange," the symbol color for child abuse prevention, and raise their voices by walking.

Since its start in 2022, over 122,000 people have walked together.

[ORANGE WALK 2025 Latest Achievements]

Item, Value
Number of participating groups, 22 groups
Number of participants, 34,903 people
Total steps, 5,032,398,800 steps

We believe that over 5 billion steps will create a ripple effect that shakes society.

💛 To be close ── A system to "support" foster parents

The time after becoming a foster parent is the loneliest.

There are foster parents even at this moment, holding a child who cries all night, thinking, "Am I the only one suffering this much?"

For that reason, we continue:

- Online seminars for foster parents: 44 sessions held, 4,814 participants
- Foster parent liability insurance: An insurance system to prepare for contingencies
- Grant program for foster parents: Support for activity expenses

## [This dream is not an April Fool's joke]

Today is April 1st.

On a day when lies fly around the world, we speak the truth.

In Japan today, there are 42,000 children who are parentless or cannot live with their parents.
Approximately 75% of them will sleep in an institution tonight.
Child abuse consultation cases exceeded 200,000 this year.

We do not want this to end with "I didn't know."

"A society where all children grow up in a loving home."

That is our Vision.
For that, we continue to act today.

When all 42,000 children receive a home.
Only then will we bring this activity to a close.

─ This is the April Dream of the Japan Child Support Association ─

"April Dream" is a project by PR TIMES for companies and organizations to announce the dreams they hope to achieve on April 1st. We are seriously aiming for the realization of this dream.

## [Organization Overview]

Item, Content
Organization Name, Certified NPO Japan Child Support Association
Representative Director, Shinobu Iwachasa
Established, May 2010 (NPO: March 2015, Certified NPO: February 2024)
Location, Alivio Uehonmachi 502, 3-2-16 Ueshio, Tennoji-ku, Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture
E-mail,