2,286 eateries set up to offer affordable meals to kids

April 5, 2018

Tokyo- A survey by a private-sector group has found that a total of 2,286 "kodomo shokudo," or cafeterias that offer meals to children free of charge or at low prices, have been set up in Japan as part of efforts to address the issue of child poverty.

The number of kodomo shokudo is believed to have surged in recent years, reflecting increasing public awareness of the child poverty issue. Financial assistance by local governments has also contributed to the opening of such cafeterias, according to the group, which supports kodomo shokudo.

The group, led by Hosei University Prof. Makoto Yuasa, conducted the survey through social welfare councils in the country's 47 prefectures and reported the situation for the first time.

The first kodomo shokudo is believed to have been launched in Tokyo's Ota Ward in 2012. At present, nonprofit organizations, social welfare corporations and various other groups operate kodomo shokudo eateries.

By prefecture, Tokyo has the largest number of kodomo shokudo, at 335, followed by Osaka, at 219, and Kanagawa, at 169.

"More and more people are voluntarily opening kodomo shokudo because child poverty has become a social problem," Yuasa said.

Yuasa also said that such eateries serve as places where local residents gather and communicate.

Meanwhile, he pointed out that many kodomo shokudo cafeterias face financial difficulties and have no insurance policies in preparation for possible problems including food poisoning.

"They need to establish a sustainable management foundation for procuring funds to ensure the safety of their meals," Yuasa stressed.

Currently, there no government-set standards on the establishment and operations of kodomo shokudo. Jiji Press