Providing Mental Care to Children Fighting Severe Illnesses Like Pediatric Cancer Through Art Intervention Therapy
Certified NPO Shine On! Kids has introduced the 'Beads of Courage' art intervention therapy to the University of Occupational and Environmental Health Hospital in Fukuoka. This expands the program, designed to support the mental health of children with severe illnesses, to 35 facilities nationwide.
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- 📰 Published: April 22, 2026 at 20:00
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Certified NPO Shine On! Kids (Chuo-ku, Tokyo; President: Kimberly Forsythe, https://sokids.org/ja/), an organization that supports children fighting pediatric cancer and other severe illnesses, introduced the "Beads of Courage" art intervention therapy program to the University of Occupational and Environmental Health Hospital (Yahatanishi-ku, Kitakyushu City, Fukuoka Prefecture) on April 1, 2026. Following this introduction, the program is now being implemented in 35 hospitals and facilities across Japan.
Beads of Courage is a form of "art intervention therapy" aimed at providing mental care for hospitalized pediatric patients and their families. Developed in the United States and adopted by many hospitals primarily in North America and Europe, Shine On! Kids is the only organization in Japan certified to operate the Beads of Courage program.
Children record their treatment journey using colorful glass beads. Specific beads are designated for various procedures and treatments—such as a red bead for a blood transfusion or a face bead when hair starts to fall out. The children string these beads themselves while conversing with medical staff members acting as "Bead Ambassadors."
They connect beads symbolizing their treatment, one by one.
Through the process of stringing the beads, children reflect on the treatments they have overcome, realize their courage and hope, gain confidence in their lives, and boost their self-esteem. Visualizing what is happening to them allows them to view their situation objectively and explain it to the people around them.
For this implementation, online training was conducted on Thursday, March 19, prior to the program's start, resulting in the certification of 8 Bead Ambassadors: 4 doctors, 2 nurses, and 2 childcare workers.
Regarding the "Bead Ambassador" training held before the rollout, a representative stated, "Everyone was united by the desire to deliver the beads to the children as soon as possible."
During the training, participants learned about the significance of the program, its effects on pediatric patients, and its effectiveness for healthcare providers. Furthermore, using beads designated for "Bead Ambassadors," they experienced the joy of stringing beads firsthand. Since its first introduction in Japan in 2009, over 1,000 Bead Ambassadors have been certified, working closely with countless children.
With this introduction, the number of hospitals implementing the program in Fukuoka Prefecture has increased to two, joining the National Hospital Organization Kyushu Cancer Center. Shine On! Kids will continue to strive to provide mental care for children fighting illnesses and their families.
◆ Beads of Courage Implementing Facilities
Sapporo Medical University Hospital / Miyagi Children's Hospital / Ibaraki Children's Hospital / University of Tsukuba Hospital Pediatrics / Gunma Children's Medical Center / Saitama Children's Medical Center / Chiba University Hospital / Narita Red Cross Hospital / Medical Corporation Senshu Futabakai Inage Mirai Clinic / Keio University Hospital / National Cancer Center Hospital / Tokyo Medical and Dental University Hospital / Medical Corporation Tokiwa / The Jikei University Hospital / Tokyo Metropolitan Children's Medical Center / Yokohama City University Hospital / Kanagawa Children's Medical Center / Shizuoka Children's Hospital / Chukyo Hospital / Medical Research Institute Kitano Hospital / Osaka City General Hospital / Tsurumi Children's Hospice / Osaka Red Cross Hospital / Osaka Women's and Children's Hospital / Kobe University Hospital / Child Chemo House / Hyogo Prefectural Kobe Children's Hospital / Visiting Nursing Station Tsunagi / Shimane University Hospital / Kurashiki Central Hospital / Kochi Health Sciences Center / Ehime University Hospital / Kyushu Cancer Center / University of Occupational and Environmental Health Hospital / Okinawa Prefectural Nanbu Medical Center & Children's Medical Center
◆ About Shine On! Kids
We support children with pediatric cancer and severe illnesses and their families through mental care programs. We operate the Facility Dog Program (animal intervention therapy), the Beads of Courage Program (art intervention therapy), Shine On! Community (social contribution activity support and career support for childhood cancer survivors), and Shine On! Connections (providing online mental care and educational support activities). Established in 2006, currently active in 36 hospitals/facilities nationwide as of April 2026. http://sokids.org/ja/
Beads of Courage is a form of "art intervention therapy" aimed at providing mental care for hospitalized pediatric patients and their families. Developed in the United States and adopted by many hospitals primarily in North America and Europe, Shine On! Kids is the only organization in Japan certified to operate the Beads of Courage program.
Children record their treatment journey using colorful glass beads. Specific beads are designated for various procedures and treatments—such as a red bead for a blood transfusion or a face bead when hair starts to fall out. The children string these beads themselves while conversing with medical staff members acting as "Bead Ambassadors."
They connect beads symbolizing their treatment, one by one.
Through the process of stringing the beads, children reflect on the treatments they have overcome, realize their courage and hope, gain confidence in their lives, and boost their self-esteem. Visualizing what is happening to them allows them to view their situation objectively and explain it to the people around them.
For this implementation, online training was conducted on Thursday, March 19, prior to the program's start, resulting in the certification of 8 Bead Ambassadors: 4 doctors, 2 nurses, and 2 childcare workers.
Regarding the "Bead Ambassador" training held before the rollout, a representative stated, "Everyone was united by the desire to deliver the beads to the children as soon as possible."
During the training, participants learned about the significance of the program, its effects on pediatric patients, and its effectiveness for healthcare providers. Furthermore, using beads designated for "Bead Ambassadors," they experienced the joy of stringing beads firsthand. Since its first introduction in Japan in 2009, over 1,000 Bead Ambassadors have been certified, working closely with countless children.
With this introduction, the number of hospitals implementing the program in Fukuoka Prefecture has increased to two, joining the National Hospital Organization Kyushu Cancer Center. Shine On! Kids will continue to strive to provide mental care for children fighting illnesses and their families.
◆ Beads of Courage Implementing Facilities
Sapporo Medical University Hospital / Miyagi Children's Hospital / Ibaraki Children's Hospital / University of Tsukuba Hospital Pediatrics / Gunma Children's Medical Center / Saitama Children's Medical Center / Chiba University Hospital / Narita Red Cross Hospital / Medical Corporation Senshu Futabakai Inage Mirai Clinic / Keio University Hospital / National Cancer Center Hospital / Tokyo Medical and Dental University Hospital / Medical Corporation Tokiwa / The Jikei University Hospital / Tokyo Metropolitan Children's Medical Center / Yokohama City University Hospital / Kanagawa Children's Medical Center / Shizuoka Children's Hospital / Chukyo Hospital / Medical Research Institute Kitano Hospital / Osaka City General Hospital / Tsurumi Children's Hospice / Osaka Red Cross Hospital / Osaka Women's and Children's Hospital / Kobe University Hospital / Child Chemo House / Hyogo Prefectural Kobe Children's Hospital / Visiting Nursing Station Tsunagi / Shimane University Hospital / Kurashiki Central Hospital / Kochi Health Sciences Center / Ehime University Hospital / Kyushu Cancer Center / University of Occupational and Environmental Health Hospital / Okinawa Prefectural Nanbu Medical Center & Children's Medical Center
◆ About Shine On! Kids
We support children with pediatric cancer and severe illnesses and their families through mental care programs. We operate the Facility Dog Program (animal intervention therapy), the Beads of Courage Program (art intervention therapy), Shine On! Community (social contribution activity support and career support for childhood cancer survivors), and Shine On! Connections (providing online mental care and educational support activities). Established in 2006, currently active in 36 hospitals/facilities nationwide as of April 2026. http://sokids.org/ja/