A New Chapter
In 2023, the Social Welfare Exchange program re-located to Karuizawa, Nagano as its new home base, exploring new directions as it expanded its activities.
In fall of 2024, two participants from Japan visited Athens, Ohio — touring an assisted living facility and an art studio for people with developmental disabilities, and staying with host families.
A new initiative has also been added — Zoom meetings. Every two weeks, members in Japan, Ohio, and Canada gather on Zoom to talk freely about welfare, culture, food, daily life, and family. Early morning in Japan, just before dinner in Ohio, early afternoon in Canada — a mix of English and Japanese, exactly one hour. Sometimes in workshop format, with the same tools and materials in front of everyone, sharing the same experience across oceans and exchanging impressions together.
These conversations enrich the planning of face-to-face exchanges, increase opportunities for information sharing and new inspiration, and bring in new voices that might never have had the chance to participate before. Our members include welfare professionals, volunteers, friends, and people bound together by a shared desire to make society a little better — a diverse and fun-loving group living in Japan, Ohio, and Canada.
This year, a guest from Ohio will soon be visiting Japan to tour welfare facilities for the elderly and people with disabilities. We look forward to updating you on this soon!
Our Story
The Social Welfare Exchange program was established in 1984, based in Kasugai City, Aichi Prefecture. Its roots lie in the experience of a couple who had moved to the United States in search of an education for their son with disabilities. Living in America, they came to realize how differently children with disabilities were educated and cared for compared to Japan. The idea that every person deserves the opportunity to develop their own abilities had not yet taken firm root in Japan at the time.
Upon returning to Japan, together with like-minded colleagues on both sides of the Pacific, they worked to build a foundation for welfare exchange between Japan and the United States.
Preparations began in 1983, and the following year fundraising started through the sale of beautiful Mino paper napkins. Then in September 1985, the first exchange participant traveled from Japan to Ohio, visiting welfare facilities in Athens.
For nearly forty years, supported by the efforts of many, the activities have continued steadily. Welfare professionals, educators, and volunteers from Japan, Ohio, and eventually Australia crossed oceans to visit facilities, stay with host families, and learn directly from each other about how their respective societies support those who are most vulnerable. More than 100 people experienced these exchanges. Many letters and thank-you notes were written, newsletters were published every year, and friendships that continue to this day are still being nurtured.
Working together across borders can deepen friendship and open new paths forward — it is this hope that has always been at the heart of the program.