Support 21 to Host 'Children's Music Dining Smile Concert' on June 27

Social welfare organization Support 21 (Chairperson: Shinzo Araragi, Professor Emeritus of Sophia University), with the special cooperation of Bunkyo Gakuin University (President: Tsutomu Fukui), will host the 'Children's Music Dining Smile Concert' at the university's Hongo Campus Jin-ai Hall on June 27, 2026.

This year, Support 21 launched the 'Children's Music Dining' project, building on its support activities for refugee and foreign-rooted children. By providing opportunities to engage with cultural arts that nurture the heart, the project aims for continuous support that reaches both the minds and bodies of the children, going beyond food assistance.

Bunkyo Gakuin University has been working on promoting cultural arts and well-being through music since signing a partnership agreement with Pacific Philharmonia Tokyo in 2024. They have already been creating opportunities for children to experience high-quality music, such as conducting string quartet classes and concerts for kindergarteners.

Support 21 is collaborating with Bunkyo Gakuin University and Pacific Philharmonia Tokyo to hold this 'Smile Concert.' By delivering authentic musical experiences from a professional orchestra to children who have limited access to cultural arts, the initiative aims to bridge the gap in cultural and artistic experiences.

Concert Details: - Date: June 27, 2026 (Sat) - Location: Bunkyo Gakuin University Jin-ai Hall - Time: Starts 14:00 (Doors open 13:00) - Program includes Grieg's Peer Gynt Suite No. 1, Elgar's Pomp and Circumstance, and Joe Hisaishi's My Neighbor Totoro medley.