Towards Eliminating the Experience Gap: "Supported by WITH HARAJUKU Children's Music Cafeteria" to be Held from July 24, 2026 in Harajuku!

Sapoto 21 Social Welfare Corporation (Chairman: Shinzo Araragi) will collaborate with Pacific Philharmonia Tokyo (Chairman: Masatada Fukiura) to hold "Supported by WITH HARAJUKU Children's Music Cafeteria" for three days from July 24 (Fri) to July 26 (Sun), 2026, at WITH HARAJUKU (Shibuya-ku, Tokyo).

"Children's Music Cafeteria" is a support project that delivers music and food to children who have limited opportunities to experience the arts. By providing free live performances by professional musicians and light meals, we aim to eliminate the experience gap by offering children rich cultural and artistic experiences.

At this event, you can enjoy authentic classical music performances such as brass quintets and string quartets by musicians from Pacific Philharmonia Tokyo at close range, where you can feel the players' breath. The program is designed to be accessible even for children experiencing classical music for the first time, and children who make reservations will receive a meal voucher that can be used at participating stores within WITH HARAJUKU/Harajuku Quest Hall on the day of the event.

Event Overview

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1. Enjoy at a distance where you can feel the players' breath

Unlike typical concert halls, the distance to the performers is very close, allowing you to directly experience the power and realism of the music.

2. Ideal for a first classical music experience

We will convey the charm of classical music in an easy-to-understand manner, incorporating familiar tunes and instrument introductions for children.

2. Meal voucher as a gift

Children who make advance reservations and attend will receive a meal voucher that can be used on the day at participating stores within WITH HARAJUKU/Harajuku Quest Hall.

About "Children's Music Cafeteria"

"Children's Music Cafeteria," a new initiative by Sapoto 21 Social Welfare Corporation starting this fiscal year, is a cultural and artistic support program for children developed in collaboration with Pacific Philharmonia Tokyo.

Amidst growing attention to the "experience gap" – disparities in opportunities to experience culture and arts due to children's upbringing environments – this project merges the support expertise of Sapoto 21, which has been supporting the self-reliance of refugees and people of foreign roots for over 34 years, with the artistic excellence of Pacific Philharmonia Tokyo. By delivering musical experiences and light meals to children who have limited opportunities to engage with culture and arts due to economic circumstances or family background, we aim to bridge the experience gap.

About Sapoto 21 Social Welfare Corporation

Sapoto 21 Social Welfare Corporation is an organization that supports the self-reliance of people of foreign roots, including refugees settled in Japan, returnees from China, and Japanese descendants and their children. It was established as a social welfare corporation in 1992, taking over the domestic operations of the "Indochina Refugee Assistance Association" (now AAR Japan [Japan Association for Refugees]), which was founded in 1979 to support the settlement of refugees in Japan.

About Pacific Philharmonia Tokyo

Established in 1990. Under the music direction of Norichika Iimori, the orchestra performs a diverse range of genres, centering on classical music, but also including opera, ballet, and even anime and game music. Since 2018, they have been holding regular concerts in Nerima Ward. They emphasize activities to bring music to children and have been steadily accumulating performance activities that are close to communities and educational sites, aiming to convey the resonance and harmony unique to an orchestra.