Certified non-profit corporation Buddy Team (Buddy Team) is a Tokyo based home-visit support organisation that assist families facing parenting challenges and works to prevent child abuse. The organization works to prevent abuse by supporting households struggling with issues such as parental physical and mental health problems, child illness or disability, single parenthood, and or financial hardship. Services include childcare, household assistance, school-pick-ups, and tutoring. Buddy Team collaborates with local private organizations and government agencies as needed to provide comprehensive support to families. This time we spoke with Director Okada.

Director Okada visiting a supported household

Please tell us about your background and what motivated you to start Buddy Team’s activities?

I am a licensed nurse with experience in both medical and public health fields, including psychiatric nursing, music therapy and managing employee health in corporate settings. Japan established the Child Abuse Prevention Act in 2000, which and this happened to coincided with my pregnancy, during which, exposure to news reports on child abuse made the issue feel personal. While I was fortunate to have a supportive childcare network, I became deeply aware that without such support, many families can face significant challenges in raising children. I could not turn a blind eye to this issue and therefore I looked for ways to help. For roughly two years I registered with an NPO supporting families in need. Through this work, I learned that it is regular and consistent engagement with families. So, I founded the non-profit organization Buddy Team in 2007.that reveals their specific challenges and that we can help them that might otherwise go unnoticed. So, I founded the non-profit organization Buddy Team in 2007.

What has been the most challenging or rewarding aspect of your NPO’s work so far?

18 years have passed since I founded this organization. Guided by the motto “A society where everyone raises children together,” we aim to encourage participation from people of all ages and backgrounds. Our “Childcare Partners” include individuals ranging from students to those in their eighties, each making meaningful contributions. Childcare Partners do not need to be experts, in fact, I believe non-experts are able to provide support in ways that professionals may overlook. Many participants who have previously never engaged with social issues, discover fulfillment through this work, expressing comments such as “My values have changed,” or “I’m happy to be appreciated.” Rather than a one-way support system, we’re building a mutually supportive relationships, which I find to be very rewarding.

On the other hand, we continue to face operational challenges. Like many NPOs, we struggle with securing stable funding and addressing staff shortages. In addition, measuring outcomes is especially difficult. The impact of childcare support cannot be easily quantified in the short term, and results vary across families. While we received income from government-commissioned projects, there are so many things I feel I want to do or have to do, but funding for our independently operated activities remains very tight. This is why we are truly grateful for the donation from FIT. Unlike many grants that come with strict restrictions, FIT’s flexible support is invaluable.

Giving a speech as representative of all the beneficiary organizations on the day of the 2025 FIT Charity Run


Buddy Team’s small haven “Baum” (1)


Buddy Team’s small haven “Baum” (2)

How are the donations from FIT being used?

The donations are mainly used to operate our independent “Small Haven Project: Baum” (“Baum” meaning “tree” in German and also a homophone of “create space” in Japanese). “Baum” is a rented space near our office, serving as a temporary safe space for parents and children who require support through our home-visit program. Families can rest in a clean environment and share a warm, home-cooked meal. Children who don’t attend school and families that find it difficult to leave the house also have difficulty accessing support places where lots of unfamiliar people may go, and where they may feel trapped together. Therefore, providing temporary refuge helps them regain emotional composure. FIT’s donations support the cost of ingredients for the meals served at “Baum.” Going forward, we aim to make overnight stays possible in this safe space.

What can we do to support your activities?

We are very grateful to FIT for providing the lump-sum operational donation, rather than a grant to use as funds for independent projects, and we feel encouraged that so many people took an interest in our activities via FIT. Looking ahead, we would greatly appreciate it if companies could help us to raise awareness and reach more people by hosting information sessions regarding Buddy Team. For those interested in becoming a “Supporter,” we hold explanatory sessions twice a month and welcome participation and involvement in any shape, way, or form. Please join us and come see yourself!

What are your plans for expanding activities in the future?

We want to further develop our independent Small Haven Project while strengthening collaboration with local organizations such as children’s cafeterias and food banks. By integrating these I hope to extend the reach of our home-visit support to those who would otherwise be missed by government programs alone.

Lastly, do you have a message for our readers?

There are many approaches to preventing child abuse, but we believe that visiting families and standing alongside parents and children is the most important. Regardless of age or experience, please join us in building a society where everyone supports childcare. Whether through volunteering or financial support, we hope you’ll participate however you can.

Members of the Buddy Team Office


Photograph taken at “Baum”. Representative Director Okada (third person from the right), Director Hamada (fourth person from the left), and the remaining FIT2025 Organising Committee Members from the right: Taniyama, Sato, Sakaue, Onishi, Nakadai.

Specified Non-profit Corporation Buddy Team
https://buddy-team.com/