2nd JANPIA Media Seminar: How to Prevent Isolation During Pregnancy, Childbirth, and Childcare

The Japan Network for Public Interest Activities (JANPIA), a general incorporated foundation located in Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, with President Niomi Masaya, will hold the 2nd JANPIA Media Seminar titled 'How to Prevent Isolation During Pregnancy, Childbirth, and Childcare: Regional Support Expanding Through Dormant Deposit Utilization Business' on August 5, 2026 (Wednesday).

There are various cases where individuals face difficulties during pregnancy and childcare but struggle to access necessary support. These include young people who cannot consult anyone about their pregnancy, families that cannot connect with support for childbirth and childcare, and mothers who become isolated due to lack of regional connections. To address these challenges, various entities such as local governments, medical institutions, NPOs, and local residents are collaborating to provide support tailored to each region's characteristics.

This seminar will focus on the theme of 'Isolation During Pregnancy, Childbirth, and Childcare.' Organizations involved in support through dormant deposit utilization will present their initiatives, sharing social issues observed on the ground and practical efforts in their regions, such as consultation support, creating spaces, and community building.

Journalist Keiko Hamada will serve as the facilitator, engaging in dialogue with the presenting organizations to explore necessary perspectives for continuous support from pregnancy to childcare, the importance of collaboration among government, medical, regional, and NPO sectors, and new initiatives through dormant deposit utilization. The seminar will consider the approach to support required by regions and society to prevent isolation.

Through this seminar, we aim to deepen understanding of the social issue of isolation during pregnancy, childbirth, and childcare, and widely disseminate the significance of regional initiatives through dormant deposit utilization and the collaborative efforts of diverse entities to address social issues.

Event Overview

Name: 2nd JANPIA Media Seminar Theme: How to Prevent Isolation During Pregnancy, Childbirth, and Childcare: Regional Support Expanding Through Dormant Deposit Utilization Business Date: August 5, 2026 (Wednesday) 13:30-15:05 (Doors open at 13:15) Format: Hybrid (Venue & Online) Venue: JANPIA Conference Room, Japan Network for Public Interest Activities (3F, 2-2-3 Uchisaiwai-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Yurakucho International Building 312) Target Audience: Journalists from newspapers, TV, magazines, web media, etc. Registration: Please register via the following form: https://forms.office.com/r/byX6pCer49

Program (Tentative)

13:30-13:40 Opening Remarks & Introduction to Dormant Deposit Utilization System 13:40-13:45 Introduction by Facilitator & Introduction of Speakers 13:45-14:00 Case 1: Initiatives by Certified NPO Piccolaere 14:00-14:15 Case 2: Initiatives by NPO Pregnancy Shelter SOS 14:15-14:30 Case 3: Initiatives by NPO MotherTree 14:30-14:55 Cross-Talk & Discussion 14:55-15:05 Q&A *Note: The program may change.

Speaker Profiles

Certified NPO Piccolaere (Tokyo) Representative Director Kaori Nakajima Project Name: One-Stop Support Hub for Unmarried Young Mothers and Young Pregnant Women https://johokoukai.janpia.or.jp/result/A203184/ After the birth of her second child, she aimed to become a midwife and worked as a midwife in hospitals and birthing centers. She aims to be a midwife who continuously supports women from pregnancy to childcare and is involved in the operation of Certified NPO Piccolaere. Author of 'Drifting Girls' (Asahi Shimbun Publications, 2017). Member of the Cabinet Office's 'Study Meeting on the Creation of SNS Consultation Manuals Regarding Sexual Violence' (2021). Temporary member of the Cabinet Office's 'Expert Meeting on the Promotion of Child Policies' (2021-22). Member of the Child and Family Council's Social Foster Care and Family Support Subcommittee (2023). Member of the Child and Family Agency's Social Foster Care and Family Support Subcommittee (2023-2025). Member of the Child and Family Agency's Study Meeting on the Provision of Preconception Care (2024-2025).

NPO Pregnancy Shelter SOS (Okayama Prefecture) President Tomoko Kobayashi Project Name: Construction and Operation of Shelter for Pregnant Women in Crisis Without a Place to Stay and Preparation for Employment Support https://johokoukai.janpia.or.jp/result/A201114/ Since 2015, she has operated a birthing center in the southern area of Okayama City, handling 5-12 natural births annually. The center provides postpartum care, breast care, and childcare consultation in addition to childbirth. She also serves as a counselor for Okayama Prefecture's Sexual and Health Consultation Center and a visiting instructor for Okayama City, engaging in newborn visits and childcare support projects to build a visible relationship with the administration. Established an NPO in February 2022 and is currently responding to pregnancy SOS consultations.

NPO MotherTree (Fukushima Prefecture) President Emiko Miyazaki Project Name: Establishment of Comprehensive Support System to Prevent Social Isolation of Mothers During Perinatal and Childcare Periods https://johokoukai.janpia.or.jp/result/A201917/ As a nurse and public health nurse, she has been involved in clinical work in pediatrics, NICU, and psychiatry, and in family and pediatric nursing education at universities. Currently, as the president of NPO MotherTree, she operates consultation support for caregivers, home-visit housework and childcare support, parent-child spaces, postpartum care, and childcare respite. She has responded to over 1,000 consultations and is working to build a regional support model to prevent the worsening of parental and child isolation and difficulties through collaboration with administrative, medical, and welfare institutions.

Facilitator

Journalist Keiko Hamada Joined Asahi Shimbun in 1989. After working at the Maebashi and Sendai bureaus and the weekly Asahi editorial department, she joined the AERA editorial department in 1999. As a reporter, she covered women's lifestyles, workplace issues, and international news, serving as deputy editor-in-chief and acting editor-in-chief of AERA before becoming its first female editor-in-chief. From 2016, she worked as a producer at Asahi Shimbun's Comprehensive Production Division, overseeing projects like 'WORKO!' Before retiring in 2017, she launched Business Insider Japan as its managing editor and left at the end of 2020. In 2022, she founded the General Incorporated Association for Digital Journalist Development. Currently, she works as a freelance journalist and commentator on 'Hashimoto Shinya Morning Show' and 'Sunday Morning.'

Registration Journalists wishing to participate, please register via the following form: https://forms.office.com/r/byX6pCer49 Deadline: August 4, 2026 (Tuesday) 17:00

About Dormant Deposit Utilization System Since January 1, 2009, transactions that have been inactive for 10 years or more, with no subsequent transactions