Asian-Pacific Children's Convention

What Asian-Pacific Children's Convention does

Asian-Pacific Children's Convention (APCC) is a Japanese specified non-profit corporation (Tokutei Hieiri Katsudo Houjin) founded in 1989 as a project of the Asian-Pacific Exposition (Yokatopia) in Fukuoka. It operates grassroots international exchange programs for children, anchored on two core offerings: BRIDGE Summer Camp, which annually invites 200+ eleven-year-old "Junior Ambassadors" plus chaperons from 30+ countries and regions to Fukuoka for a roughly two-week homestay and cultural immersion, and BRIDGE Challenge Trip, which dispatches Fukuoka children abroad during spring and biennial summer periods. The organization is supported by approximately 500 volunteers organized into functional committees, 170+ corporate members in the APCC Supporters' Association, and a global alumni network (BRIDGE CLUB/BCIO) spanning 55+ countries with 10,000+ participants. APCC maintains a 17-person secretariat headquartered in Fukuoka and operates without any proprietary technology platform — its operations are technology-enabled (Google Forms, Zoom, LINE, J-payment gateway) rather than technology-defined.

APCC's revenue model is diversified across nine identified streams rather than a single monetization mechanism: participant fees for Challenge Trip, individual donations via the Smile Support Project (monthly and annual subscriptions through J-payment), corporate membership in the Supporters' Association, charity merchandise sales (T-shirts, towels, tote bags, pens, can badges, bottle holders), charity vending machine proceeds (via Coca-Cola Bottlers Japan), WAON card donations (via AEON Kyushu), charity credit card revenue share (via Model Credit's "We are the BRIDGE Card"), proceeds from charity events such as the 2025 Relay Marathon (~800,000 yen), and direct subsidies from Fukuoka Prefecture and Fukuoka City. Public funding prioritizes Fukuoka residents for dispatch programs, and the organization holds advisory and supporting relationships with UN-HABITAT (since 2002), MOFA, MEXT, METI, JICA Kyushu, and The Japan Foundation. There is no disclosed revenue figure, app, API, or proprietary AI/ML component; the competitive identity rests on community, network, and institutional legitimacy rather than technology.

Name

Asian-Pacific Children's Convention

Legal name

特定非営利活動法人アジア太平洋こども会議・イン福岡 (NPO Asian-Pacific Children's Conference in Fukuoka)

Website

https://apcc.gr.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Asian-Pacific Children's Convention is a Fukuoka-based Japanese non-profit that runs BRIDGE Summer Camp and BRIDGE Challenge Trip, annually hosting 200+ eleven-year-old Junior Ambassadors from 30+ countries and dispatching Fukuoka children abroad, supported by 500 volunteers, 170+ corporate members, and a global alumni network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth International Exchange Programs

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Civic and Social Organizations (813410)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Short-Term Secondary Immersion & Cultural Exchange Trips (EDAIAHAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Language Immersion & Cultural Exchange Programs (THAKAGAE), Short-Term Student Housing (Summer/Intensive Programs) (EDAIALAF)

Keywords

• Youth international exchange
• Cross-cultural programs
• Homestay programs
• Volunteer coordination
• Charity fundraising

Headquarters

HQ city

Fukuoka

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Participant fees: Fees collected from Challenge Trip participants to cover program costs including travel, accommodation, insurance, and activities. Specific amounts vary by destination and are detailed in application guidelines.
2. Individual donations (Smile Support Project): Online credit card donations starting at ¥1,000 per unit, with options for monthly (¥1,000/3,000/5,000/10,000 per month) or annual (¥5,000/10,000/30,000/50,000 per year) support. Managed through J-payment payment gateway.
3. Corporate membership (Supporters' Association): Annual membership in the Supporters' Association, with over 170 corporate members. Provides networking opportunities among supporting companies and organizations.
4. Charity merchandise sales: Sale of APCC original goods (T-shirts, towels, tote bags, pens, can badges, bottle holders) at APCC office and by mail order. Proceeds fund APCC programs.
5. Charity credit card (We are the BRIDGE Card): Partnership with Model Credit Ltd. APCC receives ¥500 per card activation and a percentage of card usage spent. Card carries no joining fee and no first-year annual fee (¥1,375 from second year, waived if spending exceeds ¥60,000/year).
6. Charity vending machine revenue: Coca-Cola Bottlers Japan donates a portion of charity vending machine sales to APCC. Machines are installed at companies and organizations free of charge for the installer.
7. WAON Card donation (FUKUOKA OMOIYARI KIDS WAON): AEON Kyushu sells WAON cards at AeON stores throughout Kyushu (¥300 each). A portion of proceeds donated to APCC through Fukuoka City NPO Activity Support Fund.
8. Charity events and fundraising: Annual charity golf tournament organized by the Supporters' Association (e.g., 2023 event at Aso Izuka Golf Club with 170 attendees, 90+ companies providing prizes). The 2025 APCC Charity Relay Marathon at Bayside Place Hakata raised approximately ¥800,000.
9. Government subsidies: APCC operates with subsidies from Fukuoka Prefecture and Fukuoka City. Priority for Challenge Trip participation given to Fukuoka Prefecture residents due to public funding.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

APCC operates grassroots international exchange programs for 11-year-old children, centered on two flagship offerings: BRIDGE Summer Camp (annual invitation program bringing 200+ Junior Ambassadors and Chaperons from 30+ countries/regions to Fukuoka for ~2 weeks of homestays, school visits, and cultural activities) and BRIDGE Challenge Trip (dispatch program sending children from Fukuoka to partner countries during spring and biennial summer breaks). These core exchange programs are sustained by a 10,000+ member global alumni network (BRIDGE CLUB/BCIO), a volunteer program engaging ~500 people annually in role-based committees, and a host family matching service in Fukuoka Prefecture.

Product overview

APCC (Asian-Pacific Children's Convention in Fukuoka) is a non-profit organization running grassroots international exchange programs for children, not a software product company. The organization operates a portfolio of interconnected programs centered on two core offerings: BRIDGE Summer Camp (invitation program bringing international children to Fukuoka) and BRIDGE Challenge Trip (dispatch program sending Japanese children abroad). These are supported by the BRIDGE CLUB/BCIO alumni network, volunteer programs, host family matching, and APCC for Education platform. Revenue generation relies on support services including the Smile Support donation program, charity goods, charity credit cards, and charity vending machines. The programs facilitate cultural exchange for 11-year-old 'Junior Ambassadors' across approximately 30-55 countries and regions, with operational support from volunteers organized into committees.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• BRIDGE Summer Camp An invitation-type international exchange program that brings 200+ eleven-year-old Junior Ambassadors and adult Chaperons from over 30 countries and regions to Fukuoka each summer for approximately two weeks. The entire city of Fukuoka functions as a large campsite, with participants living with host families, visiting local schools, and attending exchange camps. Each country/region sends 4 children (2 boys, 2 girls) plus 1 Chaperon.
• BRIDGE Challenge Trip

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 15,000 children have participated since 1989, with 200+ per annual Summer Camp cycle
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and flagship.

• United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT) Fukuoka HeadquarterscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2002UN-HABITAT Fukuoka Headquarters (the Asia-Pacific regional office of the UN agency) has served as an APCC advisor since 2002. UN-HABITAT cooperated on the Global BRIDGE Leader (GBL) Action Program, providing domestic training support and facilitating Japanese high school student visits to its Sri Lanka and Nepal offices for experiential learning about urban development challenges. The partnership brings UN-level credibility and international development perspective to APCC's programming.
• Coca-Cola Bottlers Japan Inc.coreGTM or Marketing PartnerCoca-Cola Bottlers Japan operates APCC-branded charity vending machines at partner companies and organizations. All management and operations of the machines are handled by Coca-Cola; a portion of sales is donated to APCC. This provides ongoing passive revenue stream and brand visibility throughout the community.
• Model Credit Ltd.coreGTM or Marketing PartnerModel Credit operates the 'We are the BRIDGE' charity credit card program. APCC receives ¥500 per card activation and ongoing donations based on card usage. Model Credit handles all card management, issuance, and customer service. The program generates passive ongoing donations from card holders.
• AEON Kyushu Co., Ltd.minorGTM or Marketing PartnerAEON Kyushu sells the FUKUOKA OMOIYARI KIDS WAON electronic money card at AeON stores throughout Kyushu (¥300 each). A portion of proceeds is donated to APCC through the Fukuoka City NPO Activity Support Fund.
• Fukuoka Prefecture and Fukuoka CitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAPCC operates with subsidies from both Fukuoka Prefecture and Fukuoka City. These government entities provide financial support as the primary public funders. In recognition, priority for Challenge Trip participation is given to Fukuoka Prefecture residents, and local government officials participate in supporting events.
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Japan)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Ministry of Foreign Affairs is listed as a supporting organization of APCC (FY2024 results), providing governmental backing and legitimacy for international exchange activities.
• Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT, Japan)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerMEXT is listed as a supporting organization, recognizing APCC's contribution to international understanding and youth education.
• Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry / Kyushu Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI, Japan)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerMETI and its Kyushu Bureau are listed as supporting organizations, reflecting the economic and trade ministry's recognition of APCC's role in international youth exchange.
• Toyota Motor KyushuminorGTM or Marketing PartnerToyota Motor Kyushu Track and Field Club participated in the APCC Charity Relay Marathon (November 2025), conducting warm-up exercises and running alongside participants. Toyota also sponsors the event.
• Craftia (formerly Kyudenko) Track and Field ClubminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCraftia Track and Field Club alumni held a running class for elementary and junior high school students at the APCC Charity Relay Marathon, contributing to the event's community engagement.
• The Japan FoundationflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a supporting organization. The Japan Foundation is Japan's primary cultural diplomacy agency supporting international cultural exchange, aligning with APCC's mission.
• Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Kyushu CenterflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a supporting organization. JICA is Japan's lead agency for overseas development assistance, and its Kyushu Center cooperation signals alignment with international development and youth exchange goals.
• Fukuya Co., Ltd.minorGTM or Marketing PartnerFukuya (food and grocery company based in Fukuoka) is listed as a cooperating company and supporter. Masataka Kawahara, Vice President of Fukuya, serves as APCC Board member and Chairman of the Supporters' Association.
• LIXILminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLIXIL is listed among cooperating companies that support APCC. The company appears on the supporter recognition list.
• Pietro Co., Ltd.minorGTM or Marketing PartnerPietro (food company) is listed among cooperating companies and supporters of APCC.
• 久原本家 (Kubarahonke)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerKubarahonke (Japanese food/sauce company based in Fukuoka) is listed among cooperating companies that support APCC.
• BRIDGE CLUB International Organization (BCIO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBCIO is APCC's global alumni organization comprising BRIDGE CLUB chapters in participating countries. These alumni chapters organize their own events, maintain international networks among former Junior Ambassadors, and send Peace Ambassadors to each Summer Camp. BCIO and its chapters are integral to APCC's long-term community-building mission.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Peace Boat: Japan-based NGO running global peace-education and youth exchange programs on international ship voyages. Its Japan origin, peace education philosophy, and Asia-Pacific regional focus overlap with APCC, though its delivery model (ship-based) is distinct.

Direct peers

• AIESEC: AIESEC is a global youth-run organization running international exchange programs (including short-term cultural and volunteer exchanges) for young people across 100+ countries. Its multi-country cohort model and youth-led operations overlap with APCC's grassroots exchange approach.
• Youth For Understanding (YFU): YFU runs short- and long-term international exchange programs for secondary school students worldwide with a host-family model similar to APCC's BRIDGE Summer Camp. Both organizations rely on host family matching, alumni networks, and multi-country cohorts.
• CISV International: CISV runs international peace-education programs for children and youth aged 11+, including homestay-based camps and village-style exchanges with a multi-country cohort format. CISV's age group, peace/OMOIYARI-equivalent mission, and homestay model closely mirror APCC.
• Experiment in International Living (World Learning): Experiment runs short-term homestay-based intercultural programs for teens and young adults worldwide. Its short-term cross-cultural homestay programs for school-age youth overlap with APCC's BRIDGE Summer Camp.
• AFS Intercultural Programs: AFS is one of the largest international youth exchange nonprofits globally, running homestay- and school-based programs for teenagers across 90+ countries. It directly competes with APCC in the international student exchange category and shares APCC's nonprofit, volunteer-supported, multi-country cohort model.

Broad incumbents

• Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE): CIEE is a large US-headquartered international exchange organization running study abroad, work exchange, and youth programs globally. It overlaps with APCC in the broader international exchange category but operates at significantly greater scale across many program types.
• JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) Youth Exchange Programs: JICA runs government-sponsored international youth exchange programs from Japan to partner countries, with JICA Kyushu explicitly listed as an APCC supporting organization. It is a broader incumbent in international youth exchange rather than a direct grassroots competitor.
• Rotary Youth Exchange: Rotary International operates long-running youth exchange programs across 100+ countries through local Rotary clubs, sharing APCC's multi-country cohort and host family model but as part of a much larger service-organization umbrella.

Emerging players

• Interexchange: Interexchange runs short- and long-term au pair and cultural exchange programs for young adults in the US and internationally, partially overlapping with APCC's homestay-based exchange model while targeting an older demographic.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/APCCoffice
• Facebookfacebook.com/APCCFukuoka
• Instagraminstagram.com/apcc_fukuoka
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/apccfukuoka

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Asian-Pacific Children's Convention