Organization Profile  English

Policy Advocacy & Institutional Influence

We provide on-the-ground insights to national and regional committees (Cabinet Office, MHLW, etc.), contributing to the conceptual formation of Japan's child-rearing support policies.

Innovative Programs: "Nakama-hoiku" (Peer-support Childcare)

Our signature program solves parental isolation through mutual childcare. Over 80,000 parents and children have participated, and the model has been adopted by 105 organizations nationwide.

We are pioneers in Fatherhood Support in Japan, maintaining a 20-year R&D partnership with international experts.

A. Global Strategic Partnerships

• Dad Central Canada: Partner since 2003. We were the first Japanese member of FRP Canada and a founding member of the Father Involvement Initiative Ontario Network (FII-on).

• International Play Association (IPA): Member since 2015, advocating for the child's right to play.

• UNICEF Partnership (2011–2014): Collaborated with the Japan Committee for UNICEF to support father-led households in the areas affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake (Miyagi, Iwate, and Fukushima).

B. Milestone Achievements in Global Collaboration

• 2004: Launched R&D on fatherhood support. Investigated Canadian government projects as part of a research team funded by the Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research (KAKENHI) from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT).

• 2005: Developed the "Father Support Program" with grants from the Welfare and Medical Service Agency (WAM); published the first Japanese edition of the manual "My Dad Matters because..." and invited Canadian coordinators to Japan for national forums.

• 2008: Presented practice-based research at the Father Involvement Conference in Ottawa, Canada.

• 2015: Our representative became the first Japanese certified trainer for Dad Central Canada.

• 2017: Participated and presented at the 20th IPA World Congress in Calgary, Canada.

• 2021: Published the updated Japanese translation of the specialist manual "My Dad Matters" (a revised edition of "My Dad Matters because...").

• Hi! Dad: An original program for expectant and new fathers.

• Papa no Kimochi, Mama no Kimochi: A re-discovery program for couples to balance childcare and partnership.

• Annual Fatherhood Forum: Held every June, featuring leading Japanese researchers such as:

  • Prof. Junya Tsutsumi (Ritsumeikan Univ.)

  • Prof. Yasuhiro Kosaki (Osaka Kyoiku Univ.)

  • Assoc. Prof. Hiroshige Ito (Tokyo Metropolitan Univ.)

  • Dr. Kenji Takehara (National Center for Child Health and Development)

• 2008: Prime Minister’s Award for Contribution to Supporting Children and Families.

• 2007: Nikkei Child-rearing Support Grand Prize (Nikkei Inc.).

• 2018: Healthy Life Expectancy Extension Award (Maternal & Child Health Division).

• 2024: Connected SAITAMA Grand Prize (Saitama Prefecture).