Introducing the Winners of the First Award for Single Parent Family Support Initiatives in Japan

Celebrating Innovation in Single Parent Family Support

The Japan Single Parent Family Support Federation (JSPF) recently announced the winners of the First Award for Single Parent Family Support Initiatives. This initiative recognizes the creative efforts of municipalities across Japan to provide substantial support for single-parent families. The award ceremony took place during a national conference held on October 5, 2025, in Fukuyama, Hiroshima. The three municipalities honored for their exemplary programs were Akashi City, Miyazaki City, and Sendai City.

Objectives of the Award

The principal aim of this award is to showcase municipalities that have adopted innovative and effective support measures for single-parent families. In doing so, the JSPF hopes to uplift the overall framework for supporting single-parent households across the nation, aligning with basic policies established by the government’s Child and Family Agency.

Award-winning Initiatives

1. Akashi City – Comprehensive Support Program

Akashi City received accolades for its Comprehensive Support Program for Single Parent Families. This program is distinguished by its holistic approach, encompassing consultation services, financial assistance, employment support, and community building. The judges acknowledged Akashi’s initiative as a model for ideal support by effectively bridging the gap between administrative services and private-sector support, thereby enhancing the well-being of single-parent families.

The program's success lies in its multi-faceted accessibility and its proactive design, which is closely aligned with the daily lives of recipients. The establishment of multiple entry points for support helps prevent isolation among single-parent families, earning high praise from evaluators for its thoughtful construction and potential for sustainable implementation across other municipalities.

2. Miyazaki City – Child Support Payment Assurance Initiatives

Miyazaki City was awarded for its Child Support Payment Assurance Programs. In light of the low rate of legally mandated child support agreements — with only 46.7% being established and a mere 28.1% being successfully collected according to a 2021 survey by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare — Miyazaki’s initiatives target both the facilitation of payment arrangements and the collection processes. This approach represents a pioneering effort in institutional support for single-parent families at the national level.

The program streamlines the process from creating formal agreements to establishing guarantee contracts, significantly easing access for participants and ensuring they receive continuous support. Furthermore, Miyazaki's initiative employs collaborations with guarantee companies and shares information across departments to maximize the effectiveness of its programs, solidifying its role as an essential support network for children and single-parent households.