Jotaro KATO
Every day in Tokyo, 6,000 tons of food is thrown away. In contrast, some people are suffering from a lack of food. For example, one migrant family has suffered from a lack of food even though the family includes three fast-growing children. The father cannot work and earn money because he is a refugee from Sri Lanka seeking asylum. Under the Immigration Law, asylum seekers cannot work. However, they are the people who need the food the most.
The system called “food bank” has saved this family. He told me that “My family members and I really appreciate the kindness of food bank, Second Harvest Japan”.
Food bank is not a bank that handles money, but a bank which makes surplus food circulate to people who cannot get enough food to live: street people, victims of domestic violence, elderly people and migrant workers are receiving assistance from food banks.
One of the food banks, “Second Harvest Japan” (2HJ), is becoming well known among Japanese society by television and magazines. The organization’s name comes from “giving a second chance to food which will be discarded. The organization was founded in 2000 to help street people. Since then, the organization has developed, starting food bank activities. 2HJ hands out food to more than 160 welfare facilities and NPOs.
2HJ has received support from more than 40 enterprises (food businesses and foreign affiliated companies). It has succeeded in founding a system which is beneficial to both the food business and people who need food. Food business can not only cut disposal and inventory costs, but also can get a good image as a company promoting CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility). This support is still given mostly by foreign affiliated companies. They hope for more participation by Japanese companies.
