The KidsFam Foundation supports children requiring medical care and their families—especially those with serious illnesses so they can live ordinary lives. We spoke with the foundation’s representative director, Dr. Ryota Hosoya.

Could you tell us about your background and what led you to become involved with the foundation?

After graduating from Tohoku University School of Medicine, I worked as a pediatric resident at St. Luke’s International Hospital. I then served as a clinical fellow in pediatrics at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center before returning to St. Luke’s. I held positions as Director of the Pediatric Comprehensive Center and Vice President of the hospital, and served as an advisor until March 2024. I specialize in pediatric hematology and oncology, and I’ve also focused on pediatric palliative care. I’ve been hosting a camp for children with cancer called “Smart Munston” since 1988.

I also assisted Masayo Kidani during her visits to Japan in 2005 and 2007 with children from Helen House, a children’s hospice in Oxford, UK. Deeply moved by her efforts, I supported her campaign to establish a children’s hospice in Japan. This movement touched many hearts and led to the creation of “Momiji House” in 2016 on the grounds of the National Center for Child Health and Development. Around the same time, I joined the newly established “KidsFam Foundation,” which supports children with serious illnesses and their families, as a board member.

How do you feel about being involved in the foundation’s activities?

The challenge of food bank activities is how to expand them while maintaining a balance between the demand for food (number of users) and the supply (amount of food provided). Until 2020, we only had one metal rack for food storage, so for a while we distributed as the food donations came in, where possible. For a time, we used the conference room of a temporary building of the Shibuya Ward Office and the cleaning office of the Shibuya Ward Recycling Promotion Section, but since this led to scattered storage locations, it was difficult to manage food expiration dates. Additionally, food storage space continues to be an issue due to the increasing number of users caused by rising prices, but thanks to FIT's donations, we were able to increase storage space.

What do you feel were the benefits of starting the organization?

Our founder, Masayo Kidani, volunteered for many years at Helen House in Oxford. Her passionate desire to create a similar facility in Japan led to the realization of “Momiji House.” Being part of her team was an invaluable experience for me. I’m grateful for the bonds formed through this work and for the joy of seeing the smiles of patients and their families who used the facility.

I’m honored to now serve as the foundation’s representative director, continuing the founder’s legacy.

Current Director Hosoya and Founding Director Kidani

Please tell us how donations from FIT have been used?

In 2024, donations were used for the following activities:
Usage Fee Support: Supporting part of the cost for using the short-stay facility “Momiji House”
Concerts: Hosting concerts for children and parents at “Momiji House” and other venues
Newsletters: Sending semi-annual reports summarizing our activities
Website Maintenance: Covering costs to maintain the foundation’s website
Family Photo Project: Providing family photo sessions with a professional photographer and hosting photo exhibitions using those images

What future activities are you planning?

First, we’re planning events to raise awareness and connect communities. We aim to host a regional event in February next year where families can participate regardless of having disabilities or not. We’re also considering building a second “Momiji House.” There’s a growing need for facilities where children with serious illnesses and their families can stay. We hope to work with stakeholders to make this a reality.

Family Photo Session Scene
Concert Scene

How can we support your efforts?

We’d be delighted if you could join our activities—even just visiting is welcome. We’re also looking for venues to host photo exhibitions. If you can offer or suggest a publicly accessible space, such as a building’s ground floor hall, we’d greatly appreciate it.

Any final messages for readers of this article?

We hope to create a society where children with serious illnesses and their families can go out and interact with others just like anyone else. If you’re interested in participating in or observing our activities, please contact us through the inquiry form on our website.

General Incorporated Association KidsFam Foundation
https://kidsfam.or.jp/