Activity Reports

Press Release

July 5, 2017

Second Harvest Japan

We are increasing our food pick up service from twice to four times a week at the Asakusabashi office. This service is also extended to families in need during the school break when children have no access to school lunches.

Second Harvest Japan, Japan’s first food bank activity organization (its headquarter located in Taito-Ku, Tokyo. Hereafter, it is referred as 2hj), is expanding its Pantry Pick Up services to directly offer food to those in need. This increase in pick up days will allow twice as many people to receive our service, from 120 to 240 households weekly, that are currently served at the Asakusabashi office.

2hj estimates that over 2 million people in Japan are at risk of food insecurity. Our Food Pantry (literary means a place to store food, but in our definition, it is a place where food can be provided) is one of the places people can turn to when they struggle to have access to food. Unfortunately, public awareness about this type of activity remains low when compared to other countries. At 2hj, Pantry Pickups, providing food at the Food Pantry, otherwise known as Pantry Pickups,  is done at the Asakusabashi office and other locations in Kunitachi City and Yashio City in Saitama Prefecture. 2hj also extends its services by sharing its acquired know-how in operation and food supplies to other NPOs and churches that are already involved or interested in offering similar services.

The number of Food Pantry users is on the rise as news of 2hj spreads by word of mouth and as it is more frequently mentioned by the municipal government. As our first step to respond to this growing demand, the Asakusabashi location was chosen to increase the number of pick up days as it already has a system in place able to accommodate this expansion in service. This allows the current Pantry Package users receiving food packages a greater access to food without having to wait for food between the Food Pantry service dates.

Additionally, in order to further assist single parents receiving child rearing allowance, since last April, the services can now be used up to 6 times a year by presenting a certificate of a child rearing allowance. This change allows greater flexibility to single parents in need.

We at 2hj continue to extend our Pantry Pickup activities while strengthening our partnership with the municipal government, the council of social welfare and NPO by establishing more pick up stations in the metropolitan Tokyo and other areas.

<Second Harvest Japan Pantry Pickup Station List>

1. Asakusabashi Office (4-5-1 Asakusabashi, Taito-ward, Tokyo)

• Access: 5 min walk from Asakusabashi station of JR and Toei Asakusa line. 8 min walk from  Akihabara  station of JR, Hibiya line and Tsukubai Express
• Schedule: Every Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday 2PM~4PM
  *Excluding holidays and the year end and new year holidays

1. Saitama station (311-2 Ukizuzka, Yashio-city, Saitama Prefecture)

• Access: 15 min walk from the Rokucho-Eki station of Tsukuba Express or 15 min bus ride from Ayase-Eki station of JR and Tokyo Metro
• Schedule: Every Saturday 2PM~4PM
  * Excluding holidays, Golden Week and the year end and new year holidays

1. [Limited Time] Kunitachi Ginfu Kobo (302 3F, Shinwa Daiichi Building, 1-18-8 Higashi, Kunitachi-city, Tokyo)

• Access: 5 min walk from the south exit of Kunitachi station
• Schedule: Every Monday 12PM~2PM until the end of September 2017

*Excluding holidays and the Obon holiday (August 14, 2017)

<Instructions on Pantry Pickups>

• An ID and a large bag(s) to put the food you receive are needed at all locations. (We recommend a luggage on wheels such as a travel suitcase)
• If you receive a child rearing allowance, please bring the certificate with you.
• You can use the service without referral if it is your first time receiving this service.
• From your second visit and onwards, a referral is needed from organizations that our office affiliates with, the municipal government offices in your area, the council for the social welfare and NPO.
• We would be happy to introduce you to the organizations we affiliate with during your first visit with us.
• We are unable to take requests for specific food items as all the food we provide are given as gifts.