What Katariba does

Katariba (認定NPO法人カタリバ) is a Certified Specified Non-Profit Organization founded in November 2001 in Tokyo by Kumi Imamura, with 157 staff and operations across 8 locations in Japan as of June 2024. The organization develops and operates youth education and welfare programs — including physical youth centers (b-lab, Adachi Base, Onsen Campus, Collabo-Schools in Tohoku), online platforms (Katariba Online for Kids/Teens, the room-K metaverse truancy program), school-based curricula (Katariba Program, My Project, Rulemaking for Everyone, Cross-School Inquiry), and an incubator for third-party youth centers (Youth Center Startup Program). Its core pedagogical model is the 'diagonal relationship' framework, which connects teenagers with university student volunteers who serve as near-peer mentors, distinct from the authority gradient of teachers/parents or the equality of friends.

The organization's revenue model is multi-stream and non-commercial: individual donations (from ¥1,000/month), corporate donations and CSR partnerships (with companies including Google, Cookpad, and Kinokuniya), national and local government grants (MEXT, Cabinet Office, prefectural/municipal bodies), bequest and inheritance donations, and commissioned program management contracts with municipalities (e.g., b-lab commissioned by Bunkyo Ward). Programs are delivered free to teen beneficiaries. Distribution is direct: owned-and-operated centers, school partnerships, an online self-service layer, and government-commissioned services. The customer base is segmented into teenagers (particularly those facing adversity — disaster-affected, economically disadvantaged, truant, foreign-background, rural), schools and educators, parents/guardians, and local governments.

Katariba's strategic posture is increasingly oriented toward national policy influence (MEXT, Cabinet Secretariat Children's Policy advisory roles), disaster-response scaling (Noto Peninsula earthquake response in 2024), and ecosystem buildout via the Youth Center Startup Program, which now supports 33 partner organizations across 22 prefectures.

Name

Katariba

Legal name

認定特定非営利活動法人カタリバ

Website

https://katariba.or.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Katariba is a certified Japanese NPO that operates youth education programs — including physical centers, online platforms, and school-based curricula — for teenagers facing adversity across Japan, funded by donations, government grants, and municipal contracts.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Tokyo

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations (個人寄付): Monthly and one-time donations from individual supporters. Monthly supporters contribute from ¥1,000 per month. Donation portal includes credit card, point programs, and in-kind giving options.
2. Corporate Donations and CSR Partnerships (法人寄付・協働): Corporate donations, CSR partnerships, and employee volunteer programs. Includes commissioned projects and consulting arrangements.
3. Government Grants and Subsidies (行政・助成): Grants from national and local government bodies for specific programs (disaster relief, youth support, education initiatives).
4. Bequest and Inheritance Donations (遺贈・相続): Bequest donations, inheritance contributions, insurance trusts, and memorial donations from deceased supporters.
5. Consulting and Program Management (委託・協働事業): Contracts with municipalities and schools to operate youth centers and implement educational programs on their behalf.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Katariba is a Certified Specified Non-Profit Organization (認定NPO法人) that operates youth centers, school-based inquiry learning programs, online platforms (including a metaverse-based truancy support program), and disaster-recovery educational initiatives across Japan. Its core mission is to provide motivation, creativity, and safe third-place spaces to all teenagers, with particular focus on disadvantaged youth such as disaster-affected, economically disadvantaged, truant, and foreign-background students. Services are delivered through directly operated physical centers, school partnerships, and digital platforms, with revenue sourced primarily from donations, government grants, and commissioned program contracts.

Product overview

Katariba operates a portfolio of youth education and support programs under its main brand, structured around four thematic areas: DISCOVER (exploration and motivation), RESILIENCE (support for adversity), GLOCAL (regional education revitalization), and POST-TRAUMATIC GROWTH (disaster recovery). Key products include the core dialogue program KATARIBA Program, the Collabo-School after-school centers in Tohoku disaster areas, the b-lab youth center in Tokyo, the national My Project inquiry learning program (98,935 students), Onsen Campus in Shimane, Adachi Base for at-risk children, Global Roots for foreign-background students, Otsuchi High School Project, Katariba Online for Teens, Sonaeru disaster child support, Youth Center Startup Program, room-K metaverse truancy support, Rulemaking for Everyone, Cross-School Inquiry Based Learning, Kikkake Program for economically disadvantaged youth, and KATARIBA Magazine as the organization's content platform. The portfolio spans physical facilities, online programs, school-based curricula, and disaster recovery initiatives.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Collabo-Schools: After-school programs in disaster-affected areas providing learning and a safe space for teenagers.
• Katariba Program
• My Project
• b-lab
• Adachi Base
• Onsen Campus
• Katariba Online for Teens
• room-K
• Kikkake Program
• Global Roots (Rootsプロジェクト)
• Sonaeru
• Chat Consultation (ブリッジ)

Products and services

• KATARIBA Program (カタリバProgram) Dialogue-based learning program for high school students facilitated by university student volunteers through diagonal mentor-like relationships to spark motivation and creativity.
• Collabo-School (コラボ・スクール) After-school learning centers operated in disaster-affected Tohoku areas (Otsuchi Ringakusha in Iwate, Futaba Future Lab in Fukushima), providing students with places to learn, connect, and imagine their own futures after earthquakes and disasters.
• b-lab (文京区青少年プラザ b-lab) Youth center for middle and high school students in Bunkyo, Tokyo, functioning as an open secret base where young people can freely explore their interests. Commissioned by the Bunkyo city government.
• My Project (全国高校生マイプロジェクト) Practice-based inquiry learning program in which high school students nationwide identify real-world issues in their communities, set themes, and take autonomous action on projects. Engaged nearly 100,000 students.
• Onsen Campus (温泉校園) Education revitalization initiative in Unnan, Shimane Prefecture, creating a safe environment, learning opportunities, and social connections for students not attending school, while also supporting parents.
• Adachi Base (アダチベース) After-school support center in Adachi, Tokyo, for children facing challenges, providing learning opportunities, meal support (dinner provision), and experiential activities to foster independence.
• Global Roots (外国ルーツの高校生支援「Rootsプロジェクト」) Support program for high school students with foreign backgrounds, helping them rediscover and affirm their identity while providing learning opportunities and social connections.
• Katariba Online for Teens (カタリバオンライン for Teens) Online platform for high school students across Japan offering live dialogue programs, creative learning activities, and mentorship.
• room-K (ルーム・ケー) Online Truancy Support Program Metaverse-based online program providing learning opportunities and an online community to elementary, middle, and high school students who are not attending school, with parental support components.
• Sonaeru (そなえる) Disaster Child Support Emergency child support program for children and families affected by the Noto Peninsula earthquake and heavy rain disasters, providing safe spaces, essential supplies, and consultation services.
• Consultation Chat "Bridge" (相談チャット「ブリッジ」) Free online chat consultation service providing support to children and parents via LINE, staffed by trained counselors.
• Youth Center Startup Program (ユースセンター起業塾) Incubator program supporting individuals and organizations across Japan in launching and operating youth centers, partnering with 33 organizations in 22 prefectures.
• Rulemaking for Everyone (みんなのルールメイキングプロジェクト) Program in which students engage in dialogue to proactively review and revise school rules, fostering student voice and participatory school culture.
• Cross-School Inquiry Based Learning (学校横断型探究プロジェクト) Program connecting small high schools nationwide through online collaboration, enabling students from small schools to deepen learning through dialogue with peers and adults from other regions.
• Kikkake Program (キッカケプログラム) Online accompaniment and learning support program for children from economically disadvantaged households including young carers and their parents, providing devices, Wi-Fi, weekly mentor sessions, and parent partner support.
• Otsuchi High School Project (大槌高校魅力化プロジェクト) Education revitalization project at Otsuchi High School in Iwate Prefecture, working with the town and local community to develop inquiry-based curricula and help students become leaders in post-disaster reconstruction.
• KATARIBA Magazine (カタリバマガジン) Web magazine publishing columns, activity reports, and interviews related to teenagers and youth issues, serving as the organization's primary content and communications platform.

Quantifiable outcome

• 88.6% of youth center users report meeting new people they had never interacted with before
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Kinokuniya (紀伊國屋書店) × NBC (エヌ・ビー・シー) Joint Charity Book Fair 2026minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 23 June 2026Katariba was selected as a donation recipient for the Kinokuniya × NBC joint charity book fair, a campaign that generates donations for NPOs through book sales. This partnership provides fundraising visibility and brand credibility through the well-known Kinokuniya retail network.
• Analogical (株式会社アナロジカル)Technology or IntegrationAnalogical, a video production company, collaborated with Katariba to produce a CM-making program where teens created promotional videos for Katariba Online. Technical expertise in video production was provided as a volunteer/partner contribution.
• Cookpad (クックパッド株式会社)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerCookpad operated its 'Oishii Tabekata Challenge Drill (たべドリ)' cooking app program in partnership with Katariba Online for Kids, providing culinary education content and instructor support for a winter cooking program.
• Google (合同会社Google)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerGoogle collaborated with Katariba for the 'Katariba at Google 2023' event, where 18 Google employees and 41 high school students engaged in dialogue about education. Google provided its offices, staff volunteers, and organizational culture expertise as part of its social contribution activities.
• READYFOR (readyfor株式会社)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKatariba formed a consortium with READYFOR for a dormant deposit utilization project to support community hub construction in Noto Peninsula. READYFOR serves as the crowdfunding platform lead while Katariba leads the on-the-ground community building program. This is a multi-year, multi-organization initiative for disaster recovery.
• N高 (KADOKAWA/DWANGO N High School)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKatariba partnered with N High School (internet-based high school operated by KADOKAWA and DWANGO) to support student 'My Projects' through online mentoring. Katariba staff and trained mentors provided project guidance remotely to N High School students across Japan.
• Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (文部科学省)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKatariba participates in MEXT working groups and research committees on education policy. Staff member Yuta Kanno serves as a member of the MEXT 'Community School Review Discussion Committee.' Katariba contributes practical expertise from the field to national education policy discussions.
• Cabinet Secretariat / Children's Agency (内閣官房 / 子ども庁)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKatariba representatives participate in national-level policy discussions on children and youth, including the Cabinet Secretary's 'Experts Meeting on Children's Policy Promotion' and advisory committees informing the establishment of Japan's Children and Children's Agency.

Scale indicators22 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Plan International Japan: Established international NGO operating in Japan focused on children's rights, gender equality, and education. Comparable to Katariba in addressing educational opportunity gaps for vulnerable children but operates with significantly larger scale and broader geographic mandate.
• SOS Children's Villages Japan: Established international NPO providing alternative family-based care for children without parental care in Japan. Comparable to Katariba in serving vulnerable youth and operating residential/care programs, though focused more on out-of-home care than community-based support.
• Save the Children Japan: Large established international NGO operating in Japan with broad programming for children's rights, education, and disaster response. Overlaps with Katariba's disaster response, education, and youth welfare portfolios but serves a much wider agenda and beneficiary age range.

Others

• Room to Read: International NPO focused on literacy and girls' education across Asia and Africa. Comparable to Katariba in mission (unlocking educational opportunity for disadvantaged youth) and methodology (combining direct programs with government school partnerships), though operating in different geographies.
• Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS): International youth mentoring organization pairing adult mentors with at-risk youth. Comparable to Katariba's "diagonal relationship" model connecting teens with non-family adults in structured mentorship relationships, though using older volunteers rather than university students.

Direct peers

• Florence (認定NPO法人フローレンス): Japanese NPO addressing gaps in child welfare through innovative services including sick-child daycare and foster care support. Comparable to Katariba in operating as a high-profile Japanese NPO tackling children's welfare challenges with strong brand recognition and donor base.
• Teach For Japan: Japanese NPO that recruits and trains university graduates to teach in underserved schools, addressing educational inequity. Directly comparable to Katariba in mission (addressing educational opportunity gaps for youth) and operating model (leveraging university-age talent to deliver programs in schools nationwide).
• Kidsdoor: Japanese NPO providing long-term learning support to children from low-income households, including devices, mentors, and family support. Highly comparable to Katariba's Kikkake Program and Adachi Base in targeting economically disadvantaged youth with wraparound support.
• Chance for Children (認定NPO法人チャンス・フォー・チルドレン): Japanese NPO providing educational support to children in poverty through direct cash assistance and learning programs. Closely comparable to Katariba's economically disadvantaged youth segment (Kikkake, Adachi Base) with overlapping donor base and beneficiary focus.
• Ashinaga: Japanese NPO providing scholarships and psychosocial support to orphaned and bereaved students. Comparable to Katariba in mission to support vulnerable youth toward educational attainment, with similar individual-donor and corporate-partnership revenue model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/katariba
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@katariba-official
• Facebookfacebook.com/katariba
• Instagraminstagram.com/npo_katariba

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Katariba