About Us
As Japan’s first incorporated food bank, we are working with others to create a new public asset,
a food safety-net, so that everyone will have access to food in their own community.
Vision
A community where everyone has access to food. This new public asset, a food safety-net, will make this possible
DetailsOrganization Details
Founder
Charles E. McJilton
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Name
Second Harvest Japan
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Head Office
Namikawa Bldg 1F, Asakusabashi 4-4-4,
Taito-ku, Tokyo,
Japan 111-0053
MAP
TEL: 03-5822-5371 / FAX: 03-5822-5372 -
Launched
July 25, 2002
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CEO
Hitomi Yokote
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Staff
21
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Annual Reports
Warehouse
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Name
Saitama Warehouse
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Specifications
- Able to accommodate vehicles up 10-tons
- Standing forklift
- 4-tier pallet racks with a capacity of 100 pallets
- Walk-in refrigerator and freezer units
- Dedicated to handling large-volume, commercial donations
Staff Introduction
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CEOHitomi Yokote
I am pleased to announce my appointment as CEO of Second Harvest Japan. I have been entrusted with the important task of taking this precious food bank, which the founder and the colleagues have built over the past 20 years, to a new stage, looking ahead to the next 20 years. Together with my wonderful colleagues, I will promote 2hj’s mission “Food for all people” by utilizing my experience and knowledge in the private sector, NPOs, and institutions of higher education. I look forward to the opportunity to collaborate with you.
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Advocacy & Development / ManagerYuji Shibata
I had always been interested in food loss, so when I read about 2HJ in the newspaper I thought, “I have to be a part of this!” and immediately began volunteering by delivering food to welfare agencies. I joined 2HJ as staff after the Tohoku disaster, and I am now struggling along as the leader of the Ishinomaki Project.
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Harvest Pantry & Harvest Kitchen/ Manager Registered DietitianSachika Takeda
I first learned about the food bank from a documentary film, when I worked for a company cafeteria. It was eye opening, and my curiosity lead me to contact 2HJ and became a volunteer. I believe that food 2HJ serves has a lot more than the “nutrition values” printed on label.
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Food Bank team / Manager
Licensed in Food Safety and HygieneYoko SakamotoI have always felt a sense of regret about food waste, especially when there are those in need. Those feelings eventually led me to 2HJ. With my prior “sales” experience and “mom” power (3 kids including twins), I would like to build a better infrastructure that would make both donors and recipients happy!
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General AffairsHiroe Goto
When I heard about the children's cafeteria and foodbank on TV, I applied to be an administrative volunteer, hoping that I could be of some help. Now, as a staff member, I am challenging myself to do something that is not in my job history. I look forward to meeting people from all walks of life and reading the feedback about Food for Kids. The positive feedback keeps me energized!
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AccountantMitsuko Kayama
I've long worked in the back office department of several international NGOs, but I decided to join 2HJ because I couldn't forget the fun I had volunteering at a food bank in the U.S. when I was a student. I'm interested in different cultures, especially sweets, and I never fail to check out the local supermarkets when I travel.
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Harvest PantryUtako Yamaguchi
Serving a large population in economy onboard the plane for 24 years, I realized eating is both a basic necessity and a luxury. As my first job in Japan, I still have a lot to learn but hope to make “Food for all people” possible, one step at a time.
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Harvest PantryKoji Sano
While I learned that far more people than I had imagined were hungry on a daily basis, I felt a strong sense of discomfort in a society where large quantities of food were being discarded. Once I started volunteering, I was also attracted by the personalities of the people who gathered for the activities. I am glad that we can work together to build a food safety net. I will do my best to be as helpful as possible not only to those in need but also to everyone involved.
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Food Bank TeamMasashi Yoshimura
There are many issues in the world, and the problem of food waste and poverty is one of the biggest. On the one hand, a large amount of food is thrown away, and on the other hand, there are people who are in need of food. When I was thinking about what I could do to help, I learned about food banks and jumped into 2hj in 2018. I am just starting out, but I will do my best to build a food safety net in Japan!
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Food Bank Team
Large-sized motor vehicle second-class licenseHiroaki TakahashiAfter I got to know about 2HJ in a TV program, I signed up to become a food delivery volunteer. I soon wanted to be committed more to this wonderful activity of distributing food that is doomed to be wasted to those in need. I became a paid worker there. Now I distribute food in a two-ton truck every day.
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Food Bank TeamHayashi Koichi
Food resources are becoming exhausted, there are people who fear for tomorrow’s meal, yet millions of tons of safe & edible food are discarded daily. While there are limits what 2HJ can do, I hope our activities and our message can influence people, change mindsets, and result in a reduction of food loss.
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Food Bank TeamAkira Watanabe
I’m a newcomer 63 years old. I‘d like to contribute to realize the world anyone can get food using my social experiences for 39 years.
Volunteers / Interns
Meet some of the volunteers and
interns who make our work possible.
2011~
Seiji Ooka
2012~
Kanako Shimonokado
Parrington Kevin
Etsuko Nada
Takeshi Matsuda
Rinko Taneoka
Hideya Miyawaki
Akio Hatsumi
Teruo Toyama
Timothy Sullivan
2013~
Kenji Furukawa
Kazumasa Yamamura
Kyoko Suematsu
2015~
Yasuhiko Sakagami
2016~
Khan Rahat
2017~
Boltze Katrin
Rich Hwang
Hiromi Shrenzel
Shoichiro Takiguchi
Jonathan Field
Keiro Ozaki
Katsutoshi Kawashiri
Phoebe Gao
Norikazu Nakamura
2018~
Anket Singh
Kazutoshi Oguni
2019~
Anuj Arora
Keiko Makuniya
Koichi Kaneko
Thomas Bertin
Kaeko Takeda
Satsuki Matabe
2020~
Keiji Oyama
Hiroyuki Ishikawa
2021~
Endo Isamu
2022~
Yasuaki Takahashi
Genichiro Igarashi
Ryosuke Uozumi
Board
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Board ChairJack Bayles
Founder/owner of Alishan Organic Center/Tengu Natural Foods, Jack has long provided valuable guidance based on his own experience and knowledge as a food importer and distributor. Jack sets an example for other companies by allowing his customers to “share the goodness” by donating while they shop—and matching the contributions. He is an original member of the Professional Advisory Board.
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TrusteeRichard Gardner
Richard A. Gardner has taught religion and a variety of other subjects over the last 30 years in the Faculty of Liberal Arts at Sophia University. He has also served as Director of the Summer Session as well as Dean of the Faculty of Liberal Arts. He has also served on the Education Advisory Council of the Fetzer Institute, which is based in Kalamazoo, Michigan.
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TrusteeLeland Gaskins
Leland Gaskins is an original member of the Professional Advisory Board. He played a key role in creating 2hj's first financial model and key metrics based on food bank operations in the US and later updated our business plan. He continues to be a valuable source of knowledge concerning good business practices.
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TrusteeShinya Kato
I worked in Chicago, Frankfurt, Hong Kong, and Japan as a creative director for an advertising agency for over 20 years. In 2018 I helped develop the concept for marugohan. I would like to bring value to the organization and society.
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TrusteeTomoko Arakwa
I have been involved in the work of nurturing grassroots community workers for about 30 years at the Asian Rural Institute (Rural Leadership Training Program) in Tochigi Prefecture. We are developing various educational activities with the aim of creating a world that values food and life. Although my involvement with Second Harvest Japan is short, I hope to be of service through my experience.
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TrusteeNoriko Suzumura
Having spent nearly 25 years in the financial services industry, working in multiple countries such as U.S., U.K. and Japan, my mission next is to serve the local community. I hope to leverage my experience to make the world a better place, even for a tiny bit. I am thrilled to be part of Second Harvest Japan!
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TrusteeGaelle Akahori
I am the General Manager of the Culinary and Hospitality School Le Cordon Bleu Japan. Throughout my career, I have primarily worked in Japan, beginning in the finance sector and later transitioning to the gastronomy world. Through my combined expertise from both financial and food ecosystem perspectives, I look forward to adding value to Second Harvest Japan.
Quality Service
We continually strive to improve the quality of our services.
To reach our goal we are developing a food lifeline and safety-net
throughout the country and we focus on these areas:
Donors
We are very grateful to have these partners
who make our work possible.
Access
Second Harvest Japan
OFFICE : Namikawa Bldg 1F, Asakusabashi 4-4-4 Taito-ku, Tokyo 111-0053
PANTRY : Higashikanda 3-7-3, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101-0031
We are located between Akihabara (JR – Hibiya Line) and Asakusabashi (JR – Asakusa Line) stations.