#Japan #Tokyo #well-being #Youth Action Summit #Child-Centric Society

Youth Action Summit 2025: A Step Towards a Child-Centric Society

On August 8, 2025, the Child and Family Agency hosted the "Youth Action Summit 2025" at the Child-Centric Plaza in Tokyo. This event brought together six youth organizations from across Japan, showcasing their activities aimed at promoting well-being and creating safe spaces for children and youth. The summit aimed to involve young voices in discussions around child-centric policies and actions.

The Child and Family Agency's "Child-Centric Action" initiative encourages various organizations, businesses, and individuals to participate as supporters on social media, sharing their daily activities and inspiring others. The event's objectives were to gain firsthand insights from the youth and incorporate their feedback into future policies and practices.

The Importance of Well-Being

This year's summit, marking its second occurrence, focused specifically on the concept of well-being in the context of children's healthy growth and societal security. The event comprised two parts: the first showcased the activities of each organization, while the second facilitated exchanges of ideas, addressing backgrounds, challenges, and the expansion of these initiatives.

Presentations by Six Youth Organizations

1. Earth Guardians Japan (Osaka Prefecture, Toyonaka City; Mie Prefecture, Komono Town)
Earth Guardians Japan is dedicated to supporting youth participation in civic matters. They bridge the gaps in awareness and information between youth and local authorities by facilitating forums where students can voice their opinions directly to officials. They emphasize the importance of not just speaking and listening but also having these opinions reflected in actual policies. Moreover, they focus on nurturing younger members to ensure the sustainability of their initiatives.

2. NEW STEP Executive Committee (Kumamoto Prefecture, Kikuchi City; Kumamoto City)
Founded in February 2023, NEW STEP is primarily comprised of high school students who aim to create a society where children never feel the need to give up on their dreams. Their projects include tutoring middle and elementary school students for free and organizing nature and career exploration activities. These endeavors also contribute to the leadership and responsibility development of the high school members.

3. Rurialuku (Gunma Prefecture, Maebashi City)
Rurialuku provides a safe space for children outside school and home, focusing on community engagement through a children's cafeteria. They stress the importance of interactions beyond just meal support, challenging the stereotype that such initiatives solely aim to alleviate poverty.

4. Tomiyacco Play Park (Miyagi Prefecture, Tomiya City)
This organization creates a space for individuals of all ages to interact freely, where children can set their own rules while minimizing constraints around safety and cleanliness. They face challenges in ensuring a continuous volunteer base from local high school students, crucial for maintaining vibrant activities.

5. Rainbow Bird (Toyama Prefecture, Toyama City)
A collaboration between the medical and educational sectors, Rainbow Bird engages medical students to contribute to community health through activities targeting children, such as family sports events and educational workshops using original materials. The initiative addresses social determinants of health, emphasizing the need for accessible healthcare concepts.

6. Junior High School Singer-Songwriter, Taiki (Nagano Prefecture, Karuizawa Town)
Thirteen-year-old Taiki, who has autism spectrum traits, creates music aimed at uplifting others. He performed two pieces during the summit, showcasing how personal experiences can inspire art that connects with the audience. His heartfelt presentation was a highlight of the event.

Closing Remarks from the Child and Family Agency

Following the presentations, Yumiko Watanabe, the head of the Child and Family Agency, expressed her admiration for the impactful nature of the youth's presentations. She stated, "You are truly the voices that resonate from the center of the community. Moving forward, we need to consider how to spread awareness of these initiatives to those who are yet to hear of them and how to engage them actively in the conversation."

Facilitated Discussions

In the second part of the summit, participants exchanged views on topics such as motivation, challenges faced in sustaining activities, and methods for broadening the reach of their initiatives. Many participants shared how they were drawn in by peers or intriguing opportunities, yet some felt held back by perceived barriers, emphasizing the need for encouraging environments.

Discussions revealed that beyond passion for working with children, motivations also included personal growth and the development of trust among peers. Participants noted that showcasing enjoyment and fulfillment in activities could attract new members and identified the need for more community spaces and experiences that support children's engagement.

Moving Forward

A primary concern raised was improving outreach to those unfamiliar with the Child-Centric Action initiative, stressing the need for strategies that lower barriers to participation. Collectively, the participants recognized the necessity to foster inclusive spaces where everyone feels welcome to take their first step.

Event Details

• - Date: August 8, 2025
• - Time: 13:30 - 16:30
• - Venue: Child-Centric Plaza, 21st Floor, Kasumigaseki Building, Chiyoda, Tokyo

The Youth Action Summit 2025 is a vital platform for youth to contribute their insights towards nurturing a society that centers on children's needs and well-being, serving as a call to action for community engagement and policy development in support of healthy, thriving future generations.