Kodomo Shokudō (Japanese: 子ども食堂, also written as こども食堂 or 子供食堂; English: Children’s Cafeteria) is a social activity in Japan designed to provide "nutritious meals and warm, happy surroundings" to children, their parents/guardians, and local residents for free or at a low price.
Since the 2010s, widely reported by mass media such as television, the number of establishments has surged across Japan as an effective means of resolving "solitary eating" (koshoku), connecting children with adults, and fostering local community cooperation. While some children's cafeterias limit users to "children or families in poverty," many aim for "creating a safe space (ibasho) for children and preventing solitary eating," as well as "intergenerational exchange" and "community building." In such cafeterias, children and families from non-impoverished households also use the services. According to the NPO "Musubie" (Japan Network for Children's Cafeterias), there were at least 10,866 locations in the fiscal year 2024, exceeding 10,000 for the first time since the survey began in 2018."Children's Cafeterias Top 10,000 / First Time Since Survey Began, Increase in All Prefectures" Tokyo Shimbun Morning Edition, 12 December 2024, Page 4
Overview There is no clear, singular definition of a Kodomo Shokudō; operational forms vary by operator, as do participation fees, frequency, and menus.
If a definition must be stated, the "Kimagure Yaoya Dandan Kodomo Shokudō" in Higashiyaguchi, Ota Ward, Tokyo—considered the first children's cafeteria—defines it as "a free or low-cost cafeteria where a child can come alone with peace of mind." The national tour "Spread the Circle of Kodomo Shokudo!", which aimed to create regional networks, followed this definition, stating, "We interpret 'Kodomo Shokudo' broadly, not just as cafeterias for children (from troubled homes), but also cases where children participate in meal gatherings for the elderly, for example."
The private organization "Toshima Kodomo WAKUWAKU Network" (abbreviated hereafter as "WAKUWAKU"), involved in operating children's cafeterias in Toshima Ward, Tokyo, defines it as "a place providing meals to children and parents for a low price or for free." The Kodomo Shokudo Network (described below) defines it as "a place where children can eat alone, and where local people provide meals for free or for a small amount."
There are also cases that effectively fulfill the role of a children's cafeteria even if they are not called "Kodomo Shokudō." Examples include organizations providing daily meals as part of local child support, groups providing meals before or after study support, or gatherings for the elderly that are opened to children and child-rearing demographics for intergenerational dining.
History Background Activities providing meals in the community already existed in Japanese history during the late Showa era. By the 1980s, as nuclear families became common and the idea that caregiving should be borne by society rather than just the family permeated, volunteer activities providing group meals or meal delivery for the elderly living alone began to spread widely across Japan. Meanwhile, child poverty reportedly began to attract social attention around 2008 (Heisei 20), and the issue of wait-listed children (for nursery schools) surfaced around 2013 (Heisei 25). In 2013, the Act on the Promotion of Measures against Child Poverty was enacted, and various projects began to increase across Japan as countermeasures against child poverty.
While the specific activity known as Kodomo Shokudō became active in the 2010s as mentioned above, initiatives for children's safe spaces (ibasho) and meal support existed prior to that. Examples include cooking and eating with children facing solitary eating or skipped meals at children's centers (jidōkan), meal gatherings at play parks, and community cafes or municipal hall meal gatherings. Tako Nakamoto, a former probation officer in Hiroshima Prefecture, has continued to host the "Tabete Katarou Kai" (Eat and Talk Gathering), a free meal provision project for children and adolescents from disadvantaged family environments, since 1982 (Showa 57); some consider this the original children's cafeteria. There is also an opinion that a 2008 report stating "there were 30,000 children who could not see a doctor due to poverty even if sick or injured" led to the expansion of children's cafeterias.
Birth of the Children's Cafeteria The name "Kodomo Shokudō" is believed to have first been used in 2012 (Heisei 24), when a "Kodomo Shokudō" was established in a corner of the aforementioned "Kimagure Yaoya Dandan." The shop owner, Hiroko Kondo, had opened "Kimagure Yaoya Dandan" in Ota Ward, Tokyo, in 2008 to sell organic vegetables requested by an acquaintance while working as a dental hygienist. Through interactions with local residents coming to shop, various issues became visible, and the greengrocer developed into a place for community interaction, study support for children, and re-learning for adults. During this time, the vice-principal of a nearby elementary school told her about "children whose only meal other than school lunch is a banana." Hearing this, in 2012, she opened a cafeteria in "Kimagure Yaoya Dandan" under the name "Kodomo Shokudō," intending it to be "a place where it is okay for a child to enter alone."
Development of Cafeterias In 2012, the aforementioned WAKUWAKU was launched, and the "Kanamecho Asayake Kodomo Shokudō" opened in Kanamechō, Toshima Ward, Tokyo. When its activities were introduced on the NHK information program Asaichi in April 2014 (Heisei 26), it attracted significant attention from mass media including television, newspapers, and magazines, sparking the nationwide spread of children's cafeterias. This became a catalyst for the spread across Japan. According to Keiko Amano, the Secretary-General of WAKUWAKU, after this broadcast, requests for visits and interviews increased, and the initiative was featured on many TV programs such as Close-up Gendai+ (NHK), Oikonomia (NHK Educational TV), and NEWS23 (JNN). As mentioned, meal support for children existed previously, but the naming "Kodomo Shokudō" was successful, leading to increased media coverage.
In 2015 (Heisei 27), the "Kodomo Shokudo Network" was launched to create horizontal connections between cafeterias and coordinate ingredients and information; many cafeterias from Hokkaido to Kyushu participated. In the same year, the "Kodomo Shokudo Summit" was held by WAKUWAKU. Many people who learned about children's cafeterias at this summit expressed desires to start or help with one, becoming one of the triggers for the nationwide spread. In January 2016 (Heisei 28), the summit was co-hosted by the Kodomo Shokudo Network and WAKUWAKU. 20 children's cafeterias in the metropolitan area that started activities between 2015 and 2016 participated, and over 300 participants gathered—far exceeding the capacity of 200—including many wishing to open new cafeterias.
From April 2016, a national tour titled "Spread the Circle of Kodomo Shokudo!" began, aiming to raise awareness in all prefectures of Japan and create local networks. In the same year, efforts to create cafeterias became active, such as "How to Make a Kodomo Shokudo" lectures held in Tokyo for people who wanted to start one but didn't know how.
Subsequently, various organizations for the establishment and operation of children's cafeterias continue to be established across Japan, such as the "Fukushima Kodomo Shokudo Network" in Fukushima Prefecture, the "Ibaraki Children's Place/Study Support/Kodomo Shokudo Network Conference" in Ibaraki Prefecture, the "Nara Kodomo Shokudo Network" in Nara Prefecture, and the "Kodomo Shokudo Network Kitakyushu" operated mainly by Kitakyushu City, Fukuoka Prefecture.
Regarding mass media, in addition to the reports mentioned above, programs such as Weekly News Fukayomi (NHK) ("1 in 6! What to do about 'Child Poverty'") in 2013 and the NHK Special Invisible "Poverty" ~Children Robbed of Their Future~ brought issues like child poverty to the surface. Many children's cafeteria operators state that watching these TV programs made them want to solve these problems.
In 2019, FamilyMart announced it would roll out "Famima Kodomo Shokudo" in the eat-in spaces of approximately 2,000 convenience stores starting in March. The sessions accommodate about 10 people, offering bento boxes and other items for 100 yen for elementary school students and younger, and 400 yen for junior high school students and older. The target is children and guardians living near each store, and children elementary age or older can use it alone with parental consent. The secretariat of the Kodomo Shokudo Network commented that this was likely the first time a nationwide company had proactively engaged in such an initiative.
According to a fiscal 2023 survey by the nonprofit organization Musubie (Japan Network for Children's Cafeterias), the number of children's cafeterias nationwide increased by 1,769 from the previous year to 9,132. This result is almost on par with the combined number of public junior high schools and compulsory education schools nationwide (9,296). The total annual number of participants is 15.84 million.
By prefecture, the highest numbers are "Tokyo" with 1,010 locations (as of Oct 2023), 2nd "Osaka" with 757 (as of June 2023), and 3rd "Hyogo" with 521 (as of Oct 2023). The lowest were "Akita" with 38 (as of Sept 2023), 46th "Fukui" with 41 (as of Oct 2023), and 45th "Nagasaki" with 48 (as of Sept 2023).
Since the first children's cafeteria was born in Ota Ward in 2012, they have increased at a rapid pace. However, because children's cafeterias are private activities that do not require notification to local governments, and there are cases effectively providing the same function without using the name "Kodomo Shokudō," the actual total number is unknown.
Content
Frequency and Timing The most common frequency is once a month, followed by once every two weeks, and once or twice a week. Operators have noted that "a monthly pace allows for long-term continuation without overstraining."
Regarding timing, daytime on weekends and holidays is the most common, followed by weekday evenings. Some cafeterias operate during breakfast hours before school, lunchtimes on weekends when there are no school lunches, focus on long vacation periods, or operate strictly during summer or winter vacations.
Participation Fee (Price) More than half of the cafeterias offer free participation for children, sometimes with conditions such as "helping out." When there is a fee, it is often between 50 and 500 yen, with 100 to 300 yen being common. Fees for guardians and adults are often set higher than for children. Some places are completely free for both children and adults.
Some shops have adopted a mechanism where adults can decide their own payment amount based on what they have so that those in financial difficulty do not feel burdened, while those with means can pay more to serve as a donation.
Note that many children's cafeterias use the term "participation fee" rather than "price" to clarify that it is a volunteer activity, not a profit-making business.
Meal Content The meals provided vary by cafeteria: vegetable-centered dishes in agricultural regions, balanced meals, dishes prepared by professional chefs, buffet style dining, etc.
Considering health and food safety, some cafeterias advertise the use of organic vegetables, no chemical seasonings, no animal products, or measures against food allergies.
Beyond nutritional balance, some shops have a "Meat Day" once a month to satisfy appetites, or serve multi-generation favorites like curry rice periodically. Others serve rice cakes, soup, and New Year dishes during New Year's.