Country Projects: Japan

Overview

In 2002, Second Harvest Japan (2HJ) became the first incorporated food bank in Japan has been an Independent Certified Food Bank member of GFN since August 2007. 2HJ is working to roll out the food banking concept in several other cities, with the hope of eventually creating a network of food banks across the country. 

Japan’s population is more than 127 million people.  Official reports (from the UN) suggest that nearly 6 million people are undernourished.  Nearly 8% of children are underweight.

GFN’s Involvement

GFN has provided 2HJ with:

  • Technical assistance and mentoring
  • A scholarship for their representative to attend the H-E-B/GFN Food Bank Leadership Institute for the last two years
  • In-country support on general operations, particularly in the area of food sourcing
  • A modest grant to fund expansion of their infrastructure.

Progress

2HJ has made significant progress in expanding and strengthening its partnerships with the food and grocery industry. Second Harvest Japan has developed several programs focused on getting food as efficiently as possible from its donors to its beneficiaries.  While most food is distributed through member agencies – as in most food bnanks – 2HJ has created several direct service programs that deliver food parcels directly to hungry families or feed hundreds of homeless and indigent residents of Tokyo in a public park every weekend.  These programs not only provide obvious benefit to their beneficiaries, but they create awareness-raising opportunities that enables 2HJ to solicit broader financial, in-kind, and volunteer support.

Learn more about Second Harvest Japan.