June 11 is 'International Day of Play': Protecting Play, Protecting Childhood. Building Cities that Value 'Play' is Expanding in Japan.

Ocua Village, Cabo Delgado Province. A 'Child Friendly Space' set up to provide a safe place for children displaced by armed conflict (Mozambique, photographed April 2, 2025) © UNICEF/UNI823187/Franco

[Tokyo, June 10, 2026]

UNICEF (United Nations Children's Fund) is calling on governments, businesses, schools, and families everywhere, ahead of the 'International Day of Play' on June 11, to recognize that a happy and healthy childhood is built on the foundation of 'play.' In Japan, local governments practicing the 'Child Friendly Cities Initiative (CFCI)' have recognized the importance of 'play' and are implementing various initiatives.

June 11, 2026, is the 'International Day of Play.' 'Play' is a child's right as defined in Article 31 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Play nurtures creativity, resilience, and social skills, laying the foundation for lifelong learning and well-being, and is indispensable for the growth of all children.

In reality, however, opportunities for children to play freely and proactively are being lost in many areas. Especially in regions experiencing rapid urban densification or humanitarian crises, there is a shortage of safe, accessible, and secure public spaces. In such environments, even when parents want to engage enough with their children, supporting the right to play is not easy. Without safe places to play, it is difficult for children to actually enjoy that right.

The International Day of Play was established by the UN General Assembly in 2024 to widely recognize the power of play and convey its importance. It raises awareness of the vital role play serves in supporting children's health, learning, and development, and calls on governments, institutions, local communities, and families to position play as an important element in daily life.

The theme for this year's International Day of Play is 'Protect Play, Protect Childhood.' Through its 'Child Friendly Cities Initiative (CFCI),' UNICEF is calling on cities and municipalities around the world to take this opportunity to widely promote the importance of children's 'right to play' and to make these efforts visible within their communities.

CFCI is a project that embodies the content of the Convention on the Rights of the Child in local governments, which are the closest administrative units to children. It is currently being implemented in over 3,000 municipalities in approximately 40 countries. Last month on the 12th, ahead of the International Day of Play, a global webinar on the theme of the right to play was held for municipalities implementing CFCI in various countries.

Various initiatives regarding play were shared by municipalities practicing CFCI, such as Brussels (Belgium), Regensburg (Germany), and Vantaa (Finland). Over 200 officials from local governments and relevant organizations in 25 countries, including Japan, discussed challenges and solutions, shared information online, and expanded connections between participating municipalities.

Local governments practicing CFCI in Japan are also recognizing the importance of 'play' and implementing various initiatives.

Niseko Town, Hokkaido - A town thought of and built with children -

Niseko Town specifies children's participation in town development in the 'Niseko Town Basic Ordinance on Town Development,' and town development is being advanced while listening to children's voices. There are cases where play equipment has been brought back to parks in response to children's requests.

Furthermore, in Niseko Town, which has heavy snowfall, the planning exhibition room of the town's Arishima Takeo Memorial Museum is opened as an indoor play area on weekends during the winter. It allows children to read books quietly, do origami, or move around energetically on trampolines and play equipment.

Abira Town, Hokkaido - A town that supports children's proactive growth -

Abira Town promotes CFCI with the view of being a 'town where children can naturally voice their opinions' and a 'town where children can play with peace of mind.'

A representative initiative is 'Play Education' (Yuu-iku). It is being advanced in cooperation with the local community, aiming for children themselves to take the lead in growing while playing. For example, in addition to the 'Ganke-yama' outdoor adventure playground where children can play without restrictions, 'Time for Play' has been introduced for first graders starting in fiscal year 2026. They are challenging early childhood-to-elementary school transition by fostering a sense of security and cultivating independence through full-hearted play, which then connects to learning in school subjects.

Tomiya City, Miyagi Prefecture - A town where children play, connect, and grow -

One of the pillars of CFCI in Tomiya City is 'A town where children can interact with friends, play happily, and learn.' The city is creating an environment where children can spend time with peace of mind and grow through interactions.

A symbolic initiative, the complex facility 'U-Tomiya,' opened this May, and...