Toshima's Food Bank Born from Connections Among Residents, Organizations, and Local Government: Opening Ceremony of 'Food Bank Toshima' Held

Food Bank Toshima (within the Toshima Ward Social Welfare Council) will hold the opening ceremony of 'Food Bank Toshima' on Monday, June 8, 2026, and officially launch operations on Tuesday, June 9, 2026.

This project is a food bank born from connections among residents, organizations, and the community. It is a pioneering effort nationwide that simultaneously builds a food safety net and provides diverse support for people living in the community.

[Opening Ceremony and Launch Overview]

Opening Ceremony Monday, June 8, 2026, 15:00-17:00 Nagasaki Community Plaza, Basement 1 (Toshima Ward, Tokyo)

Official Launch Operations begin on Tuesday, June 9, 2026

Organizer Food Bank Toshima

Cooperation Toshima Ward

1. Background and Challenges

The Toshima Ward Social Welfare Council has been operating 'Food Bank Attaka Toshima' since October 2021, but faced challenges in expanding food acceptance due to insufficient storage space, staff, and funding.

Meanwhile, local organizations running children's cafeterias and food pantries in the ward reported that despite increasing needs for food support due to rising prices, they struggled to secure stable food supplies and continue activities.

Therefore, starting in February 2025, a food bank study group was held. With the ward's provision of free storage space, a new 'Food Bank Toshima' was established together with residents and local organizations.

2. Features of 'Food Bank Toshima' - Three Pillars

Pillar 1: Food Safety Net Centrally manage food donations from businesses, individuals, and the government, and stably supply children's cafeterias, food pantries, and needy households. It becomes the core of the ward-wide food support network.

Pillar 2: Resident × Organization × Community Collaboration A sustainable operation model where residents, organizations, and the community each take on practical roles.

Pillar 3: A Place Where Diverse Support Intersects A practice ground for community symbiosis where everyone living in the area—children, elderly, people with disabilities, those with foreign roots—connects and supports each other through 'food'.

3. Why Toshima Leads the Nation

Toshima Ward is an urban municipality with the highest population density in Japan, a city where diverse generations, nationalities, and cultures coexist. It has a foundation for sharing diverse community activities, and in February 2026, it hosted the '17th National School District and Small Area Welfare Activity Summit in Toshima' at Taisho University, the first in Tokyo, with about 600 participants from Hokkaido to Okinawa.

The operation model of Food Bank Toshima, integrating 'food,' 'community collaboration,' and 'diverse support,' is one answer from Toshima Ward to the challenges faced by urban municipalities nationwide.

To Companies, Organizations, and Individuals: Support Us as Fans and Partners

We value relationships where we become 'partners in building the community together,' not just 'receiving donations.' We look forward to your participation in various forms: food donations, financial support for operations, volunteer participation, etc.

● Food Donations Unused food, surplus inventory from companies, etc.

● Volunteer Participation Food sorting, delivery support, etc.

● Financial Support for Operations Please consider membership fees, donations, sponsorships.

[Operating Organization]

Organization Name: Food Bank Toshima Established: June 9, 2026 Address: 1-39-2 Higashi-Ikebukuro, Toshima Ward, Tokyo 170-0013, within Toshima Ward Social Welfare Council TEL: 03-3984-9375 / 080-1009-0064 (Reception hours: 1st and 3rd Monday, 2nd and 4th Thursday, 13:00-17:00) WEB/SNS: https://www.fbtoshima.org Business: Building a food safety net in Toshima Ward through food acceptance, storage, and provision

[Launching Organizations, etc.]

Toshima Ward Residents: Volunteers

Organization Name: Toshima Ward Social Welfare Council (Social Welfare Corporation) Chairperson: Namie Yamamoto Established: August 28, 1953 Address: 1-39-2 Higashi-Ikebukuro, Toshima Ward, Tokyo 170-0013 TEL/FAX: TEL: 03-3981-2930 / FAX: 03-5954-7105 WEB: https://toshima-shakyo.or.jp/

Organization Name: TENOHASI (Specified Nonprofit Corporation) Representative: Kenji Kiyono Address: 1-28-20 Macaroni, Kaname-cho, Toshima Ward, Tokyo 171-0043 TEL: 03-6824-5538 WEB/SNS: https://www.tenohasi.or.jp/ / https://www.facebook.com/tenohasi Business: Support for food, housing, and community settlement for the general needy

Organization Name: Toshima Child WAKUWAKU Network (Certified NPO) Representative: Chieko Kuribayashi Address: 2nd Floor, Takekawa Building, 4-24-3 Ikebukuro, Toshima Ward, Tokyo 171-0014 TEL: 050-5526-1229 WEB: https://toshimawakuwaku.com/ Business: With 'nosiness' as a keyword, watch over children in the community and support their growth

[Related Organizations Overview]

Organization Name: Sankakusha (Specified Nonprofit Corporation) Representative: Yusuke Arai Address: 3rd Floor, 4-35-12 Kami-Ikebukuro, Toshima Ward, Tokyo 170-0012 TEL: 03-6905-8287 WEB/SNS: https://www.sankakusha.or.jp/ Business: Support for isolated young people aged 15-25 in 'places to stay, housing, and jobs'

[Contact Information]

Food Bank Toshima (within Toshima Ward Social Welfare Council) TEL: 03-3984-9375 MAIL: [email protected]