Mission 私たちのミッション
To protect the future of our children,
our activities are centered around three core pillars.
Support for Abused Children:
We provide protection and assistance to children who have suffered from abuse or domestic violence. Primarily through financial support, we ensure these children have access to a safe living environment and the psychological care they need.
Social Implementation of Abuse Prevention and Independence:
We are dedicated to building social systems that prevent child abuse from occurring in the first place. Furthermore, we work to establish frameworks that help survivors of abuse adapt to society and lead fulfilling, independent lives.
Raising Public Awareness:
We promote initiatives aimed at achieving a society free from abuse by conducting public awareness campaigns and providing essential information to the community at large.
On Establishing This Foundation
Throughout my 40-year career as an entrepreneur, I pushed myself forward according to a singular conviction: “Awaken to my purpose, to create something that only I can produce, and to devote myself to society and its people.”
As for the rest of my life from then on, I had a hunch that my next mission must be to contribute to the happiness of children, who are our nation’s treasure. To better understand the current state of Japanese children, I met with a number of various people.
One of those individuals was Osamu Takada, Secretary-General of the National Association of Children’s Therapeutic Institutions. He told me that even though abuse and domestic violence are becoming an increasingly severe issue in today’s society, neither government agencies nor private organizations are providing enough support, and the statistics we see are only the tip of the iceberg. Learning about this grave situation spurred me to immediately take action to help address these issues, even if only a little bit. In considering what we could do to protect the safety and well-being of children, we established the Walking Together Hand-in-Hand with Children Foundation.
Rather than starting activities that are only temporary, our goal is to build a sustainable and long-lasting framework that guards the safety and welfare of children, by providing support to children’s therapeutic institutions, social childcare institutions, and family support centers across Japan.
We sincerely hope that our mission resonates with and inspires you.
Chairman of the Board and
Representative Director
Sachio Semmoto
Donation 寄附について
We need your support to save these children.
The current situation surrounding children in Japan, according to the data:
In FY2024
,
children’s guidance centers across Japan handled
related to child abuse.
223,691
cases
related to child abuse.
This represents a slight decrease of
1,818 cases
(0.8%) from the previous year.
However,
cases involving psychological abuse have risen significantly:
An increase of 11%
According to the Ministry, the primary factors contributing to this rise in cases are:
- 〇 a surge in cases that specifically involve psychological abuse, and
- 〇 an increase in the overall number of incidents called in by family members, neighbors, and abused children themselves, thanks to the gradual adoption and de-stigmatization of abuse reporting hotlines.
Invitation to Donate
We invite you to become a partner in our mission to aid and support even more children.The Walking Together Hand-in-Hand with Children Foundation relies on your donations as our primary source of funding. (View our Activity Reports here.)
Your contributions are utilized solely for the daily operations and projects of our various supported institutions.
We would like to express our deepest gratitude to our corporate and individual donors.
One small such gesture is to feature their names on this website (if they so desire).
3 Ways to Give:
Furusato Nozei
(Hometown Tax Program)
Utilize the “Higashikawa Town Shareholder System”.
Support both individual and corporate tax-deductible donations.
Online Donation Credit card payments accepted through Syncable website.
Eligible for tax deductions.
Direct Bank Transfer After completing the application form on this website, instructions for transferring donations to our Foundation’s bank account will be provided.
Activities Activity Report
We provide critical support to children’s therapeutic institutions across Japan.
These are specialized facilities for children facing severe psychological challenges due to backgrounds of abuse or domestic violence. By integrating medical care, daily life support, and education, these centers help children recover and regain their independence so they can face the world with confidence.
Fundraising & Distribution
100% of the generous monetary support we receive from our donors is dedicated to helping children in need.
28
28 Facilities Supported
We invited grant applications from 53 children’s therapeutic institutions nationwide. Following a review by our Selection Committee, 28 facilities were chosen to receive support.
¥21,692,105
¥A total of ¥21,692,105 in grants was distributed to children’s therapeutic institutions in FY2025
Funds were sent to the selected facilities on December 22, 2025.
Public Interest Certification
We applied for certification as a Public Interest Incorporated Foundation, and officially received it on April 1, 2025.
Our Supported Institutions’ Needs
(Grant Projects for FY2025)
1 Security Camera Installation
To prevent accidents and ensure child safety, institutions are planning the installation of security cameras. Some children in these facilities struggle with thoughts of suicide or self-harm. By installing cameras in places where it’s more difficult for staff to keep an eye on things (in particular, hallways and floors other than those of their own bedrooms), institutions can protect children, prevent accidents, and respond quickly to emergencies.
2 Monitoring Systems via Motion Sensors
Many facilities operate with home-like settings where the layout can unfortunately lead to nighttime behavioral or boundary issues between children. To prevent this, institutions are looking to install motion sensors at bedroom entrances. This allows night-shift staff to be instantly alerted to any movement. A pilot program in one building proved successful last year, and we aim to expand this to the remaining three target buildings.
3 Purchase of Used Vehicles for Facility Use
Due to the nature of these institutions, approximately 80% of children staying there require regular visits to child psychiatrists, so they need a means of transportation on an almost daily basis. While such facilities typically purchase used cars to save costs, many of their current vehicles are aging and need replacement. Furthermore, children with developmental challenges may exhibit unpredictable movements during transport. For these reasons, we are funding the purchase of vehicles with better stability and modern safety features.
4 Air Conditioning Replacement in Children’s Rooms
Many of the AC units and outdoor compressors that were originally installed when these facilities first opened have deteriorated or been damaged over time. Furthermore, many of those units were not up to specifications for cold-weather areas such as northern Japan, so in the winter, the outdoor compressors frequently freeze solid, forcing staff to manually melt the ice with warm water. Replacing these units with appropriate appliances ensures a stable environment for the children and allows staff to focus their time on direct care and support rather than maintenance.
Thank-You Messages for Grants (FY2024)
The grant allowed us to purchase a second-hand compact car, a Suzuki Alto. This vehicle is primarily used for taking children to medical appointments, dropping them off at school, and grocery shopping. Its small size makes it so easy to maneuver, even staff members who are not used to driving are able to navigate city streets with peace of mind.
Additionally, adding another vehicle to our fleet has given us much-needed flexibility. We can now manage multiple schedules simultaneously without conflict. This ensures that even if an emergency or unscheduled need arises, we can respond immediately without disrupting plans that we had for other children.
We are deeply grateful for your support, and hope our partnership will continue in the future.
We carried out exterior repairs on the pathways the children use to get to school. Over the years, the ground had subsided, causing the path to warp and become uneven. We were constantly worried about children tripping on the bumps or having to navigate large puddles after rain.
Thanks to this project, these issues have been resolved, and it even makes for a beautiful scene.
This is a path the children walk every single day. By making their commute more comfortable and pleasant, we hope to have a positive impact on their emotional well-being.
Thank-You Messages from Children (FY2024)
Hello.
Thank you very much for donating on our behalf.
We want to practice soccer and get really good at it.
We will never forget your kindness. Thank you.
I have started my first year of junior high school. I am trying my hardest at soccer and my studies, so please root for me. I will take very good care of the things you provided through your donation.
When I grow up, I also want to become a cool adult who is able to make donations. Thank you very much.
To the people who donated towards soccer equipment:
Thank you for giving us money for new soccer gear. Because of you, everyone has started to enjoy soccer even more. I am especially grateful for the cleats because they make it so much easier to run. The soccer goalposts are also clean now, which feels great when we play. Thank you so much.
We have matches coming up soon. We will use the gear bought with your donation to practice hard and show our strength in those games. Thank you again so much for donating the money. We will use all of these new items with great care.
Board Members 役員一覧
Sachio Semmoto
Chairman of the Board and Representative Director Serial entrepreneur, and Chairman of the Board and Representative Director of the Frances and Sachio Semmoto Foundation
Keiichi Konaga
Representative Director Former Minister’s Secretary for Prime Minister Kakuei Tanaka (1972-1974), Former Vice Minister of International Trade and IndustryFounders
Toru Hashimoto
Yoriko Kawaguchi
Kazuo Futagawa
Ichiro Fujisaki
Seiichi Kondo
Jitsuro Terashima
Junko Hibiya
Yukie Osumi
Koji Kinutani
Akio Yamaguchi
Suguru Miyake
Kazuhiro Goto
Genjiro Ito
Ryuya Saito
Osamu Takada
Hideo Kobayashi
Board of Trustees
Tooru Hashimoto
Chairman of the Board of TrusteesFrances Semmoto
Yukie Osumi
Shusaku Minoda
Yosuke Kiminami
Takashi Masuzawa
Miki Takeuchi
Board of Directors
Keiichi Konaga
Representative DirectorSachio Semmoto
Representative DirectorYoriko Kawaguchi
Kazuo Futagawa
Junko Hibiya
Akio Yamaguchi
Suguru Miyake
Kazuhiro Goto
Osamu Takada
Hideo Kobayashi
Haruko Nozaki
Tetsuro Tsuzaki
Ichiko Sugiura
Auditor
Mikio Koyano
Secretary-General
Kazuhiro Goto
Foundation Overview 公益財団法人概要
Walking Together Hand-in-Hand with Children Public Interest Incorporated Foundation
Representative Director Sachio Semmoto
May 2023
32F Shibuya Hikarie Building
2-21-1 Shibuya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, Japan 150-8510
(Office of D-POPS GROUP Co., Ltd.)
Timeline Leading to the Foundation’s Establishment
2020
年-
April 17
As COVID-19 cases surge, a nationwide State of Emergency is declared across Japan.
-
Late April
A group of business leaders, including Dr. Semmoto, begins discussions on how to help children and families struggling under the State of Emergency.
-
Early May
In response to a severe mask shortage at childcare facilities, the group distributes free masks to nurseries across the country through the Japan National Council of Social Welfare.
-
Mid-May
As the pandemic leads to job losses, the number of families facing financial hardship increases. With schools closed and school lunches suspended, many children face food insecurity.
The “Emergency Food Support Project for Children” is launched, raising approximately 30 million yen in its first month. -
May 29
15 million yen is distributed as the first round of emergency aid to a total of 75 family support centers nationwide. Working with local NPOs, each center personally delivers meals to the homes of children in need.
-
July 31
In preparation for the summer break, a second round of aid (8.39 million yen) is delivered to 47 family support centers to ensure children continue to receive meals while school is out.
-
August 26
Dr. Semmoto visits the Kawawa Family Support Center in Yokohama, and is grieved to witness the reality of child abuse worsening in Japan.
-
December 1
Preparing for the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic and the New Year holidays, a third round of aid (9.50 million yen) is provided to 60 family support centers to aid meal distribution during the holiday season.
2021
年-
Summer
Dr. Semmoto makes a personal donation of 5 million yen each to two major NPOs with long histories of tackling the issue of child abuse: the Association for the Prevention of Child Abuse & Neglect in Osaka, and the Center for Child Abuse Prevention in Tokyo.
2023
年-
February 15
Dr. Semmoto visits the Kawasaki Children’s Psychological Care Center Kanade, a children’s therapeutic institution for children who have suffered severe trauma and disabilities due to abuse.
-
February 20
Dr. Semmoto publishes his book, Seize your miraculous chance in a thousand now!, and pledges all royalties to the National Association of Children’s Therapeutic Institutions.
-
May 31
To provide ongoing support for survivors of abuse, the Walking Together Hand-in-Hand with Children Foundation is officially established as a general incorporated foundation.
2025
年-
April 1
In recognition of the foundation’s contributions to society, public interest status is granted, and the official name is changed to the Walking Together Hand-in-Hand with Children Public Interest Incorporated Foundation.
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