Supporting Local Communities in Japan: The "Toka Shokudo" Initiative

The NPO Seibo is proud to support the dietary and educational needs of children in Japan through our partnership with Manabiya Toka. As part of this collaboration, we would like to share a report on their recent initiative, “Toka Shokudo” (Toka Community Kitchen), based on updates from their project coordinators.

1. Event Overview
The Toka Shokudo was held between March and April 2026 across four locations: the Yoga-Nakamachi, Jiyugaoka, Soshigaya, and Omori-Ota campuses.

Event Dates: Monday, March 9, 2026 / Wednesday, April 8, 2026

2. Attendance
Across the four campuses, a total of approximately 28 children and 12 adults participated in the program.

3. Highlights and Achievements
For this year’s Toka Shokudo, we transitioned from same-day shopping to purchasing ingredients the day before. The children formed groups based on what they wanted to cook and held discussions to finalize their shopping lists.

The activities were filled with new challenges; some children tried deep-frying for the first time, while others practiced filleting fish. One group even chose to remake yakitori (grilled chicken) from a previous session, determined to improve their recipe. Centered around the theme of food, this initiative provided a vital opportunity to foster the children’s independence, collaborative skills, and a sense of community among parents.

4. Coffee Support from Ataka Trading Co., Ltd.
Ataka Trading Co., Ltd., one of Seibo’s corporate partners, also provided support for Toka Shokudo. We created opportunities for parents and staff members to enjoy their coffee during the events.

5. Looking Ahead
To further enrich these activities, our next challenge is to improve our equipment, such as providing better cooking utensils and pots. We are committed to continuing the operation of a kitchen where children feel safe to participate and can experience the genuine joy of cooking for themselves.

Seibo provides financial support to cover the food costs associated with these activities. We look forward to continuing our mission of supporting children both in Malawi and here in Japan!