"Matomari-Shoku" Seminar for Severely Disabled Children by Dr. Kazue Asano

On June 28, 2026, "COCOLON," a community for children with severe physical and mental disabilities run by NPO EPO, will host a seminar titled "Cohesive Food to Unlock Children's Potential." Dr. Kazue Asano, Medical Director at Tsubasa Shizuoka, will lecture on the concept of "matomari-shoku" (cohesive food) and practical home adaptations. Children needing medical care often struggle with chewing and swallowing, requiring adjusted food textures. To address caregivers' challenges regarding daily meal prep and balancing safety with taste, the event aims to protect the joy of eating. Dr. Asano, who helped formulate the 2018 classification of dysphagia diets, will speak in the morning (hybrid format). In the afternoon, an in-person workshop at COCOLON BASE (Edogawa-ku, Tokyo) will teach practical ways to turn store-bought deli items into cohesive food without special equipment. The event is open to parents and professionals. General admission is 2000 JPY for the seminar only or 3000 JPY with the workshop. COCOLON members can attend the seminar for free or pay 1000 JPY for both.