Most food banks in Japan are short of rice, even though it is one of the country’s staple foods.
Founded in 2002, Second Harvest Japan (2HJ) is Japan’s first food bank and aims to establish a food safety net across the country. As a member of the Alliance of Japan Foodbanks, it works with other organisations to reach as many people in need as possible, providing them with food aid and helping to combat social isolation.
In partnership with other food banks, 2HJ is seeking to increase the distribution of rice to deprived individuals. Most food banks in Japan are short of rice, even though it is one of the country’s staple foods. This particular project involves distributing rice to residents in cities nationwide. In Tokyo, Japan’s most densely populated city, it also includes preparing bento boxes every Saturday and providing food aid to people in need, including households with children, at a food pantry directly operated by 2HJ. Since donated food alone is not sufficient to meet nutritional needs, the food distributed by 2HJ also comes from purchases made in line with nutritional criteria.
