NPO Team Fukushima Wins 77th Health Culture Award

NPO Team Fukushima: Pioneering Future Support Models

NPO Team Fukushima, led by Chairman Masahito Handa in Fukushima City, is committed to creating a compassionate society and achieving peace. Our activities are centered around two main pillars: disaster prevention initiatives and next-generation support projects.

We aim to build a community overflowing with support through projects like the "Fukushima Sunflower Foster Parent Project," which assists reconstruction via sunflowers, and the propagation of the "Otagaisama Ticket". This initiative, alongside our unmanned community children’s cafeteria, "Community Fridge Sunflower," is part of our broader mission to realize a city filled with mutual assistance—dubbed "Otagaisama no Machi Fukushima".

Triggered by the Great East Japan Earthquake, we have received support and encouragement from people across the nation and the world, teaching us the vital lesson of "helping each other in times of need." We plan to introduce the Otagaisama Ticket model at 100 locations in Fukushima so that it can serve as a replicable case for communities nationwide. This initiative is our way of giving back to everyone who has supported us, fostering a culture of kindness for future generations.

Recently, we were honored to receive the 77th Health Culture Award, hosted by Dai-ichi Life Insurance Company, with the support of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, the Asahi Shimbun Health Culture Foundation, and NHK Health Culture Foundation. This prestigious award has been celebrating individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to health, welfare, and hygiene for over 70 years.

Established in 1950 during a period marked by deteriorating sanitary environments, the Health Culture Award recognizes those who continuously strive to improve public health and hygiene. This year saw 33 applications nationwide, leading to the selection of 10 organizations and 3 individuals. Team Fukushima is proud to be among them.

At the award ceremony, Chairman Handa delivered a speech on behalf of the winners, and the following day, we had the honor of meeting Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress at the Imperial Palace—a recognition that we owe to the unwavering support from all of you.

This award and honor have reinforced our belief that "this is just the beginning and the real challenge starts now." Under our philosophy of "For next," we will continue to work towards a compassionate society and peace for future generations. We sincerely ask for your continued support in our endeavors.

About the Health Culture Award

The Health Culture Award was established in 1950 to honor individuals and organizations that contribute to improving health and hygiene in post-war Japan, which faced significant sanitary challenges. Supported by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, it has grown to become Dai-ichi Life Insurance Company’s longest-running social contribution activity, celebrating its 77th edition in 2025. The award recognizes those who tackle various contemporary issues like lifestyle diseases, welfare for the elderly and disabled, and healthcare efforts overseas. To date, the total number of recipients has reached 1,134.

For more information, visit:

- Dai-ichi Life Health Culture Award
- Imperial Household Agency (Accolades to Health Culture Award recipients)

About NPO Team Fukushima

Under the philosophy of "For next," we conduct various activities:
1. Fukushima Sunflower Foster Parent Project: Launched in May 2011 to strengthen bonds between Fukushima and the nation, with approximately 650,000 participants involved in this reconstruction support.
2. Community Fridge Sunflower: Started in February 2022 to support single-parent families and economically challenged households in Fukushima.
3. Otagaisama Ticket: Aiming to build a supportive society, we propagate this initiative for mutual aid in our city.