Hands On Tokyo
Tokyo-based nonprofit founded in 2006, bilingual Japanese-English volunteer organization serving children, seniors, people with disabilities, refugees, and environmental causes across 105 partner organizations, funded by individual and corporate donations plus an annual gala.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2006
- HeadquartersRoppongi, Japan
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Hands On Tokyo does
Hands On Tokyo (legal name: 認定特定非営利活動法人Hands On Tokyo) is a Tokyo-based nonprofit volunteer organization founded in December 2006 and recognized as an Approved Specified Non-Profit Corporation by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government since December 2017. The organization operates as the Tokyo affiliate of the Points of Light Foundation / Hands On Network, the largest volunteer network in the United States with 177 HandsOn Action Centers across 38 countries, and delivers a bilingual Japanese-English volunteer infrastructure including trained Volunteer Leaders, insurance coverage for participants, and structured orientation programs. Its mission is to provide meaningful volunteer opportunities that foster volunteerism and develop community leaders.
The organization runs a portfolio of programs across six focus areas: children and youth in need, special needs (including the LIVES Project for disability inclusion and the LIVES Kitchen food truck social enterprise), seniors, environmental conservation, Ukrainian evacuee support (AYUMO Project), and youth leadership (Youth Impact and Youth Summit). In 2025, Hands On Tokyo conducted 1,827 volunteer activities, mobilized 9,584 active volunteers contributing 17,921 hours, served 51,708 beneficiaries, and worked with 105 community partner organizations, supported by a lean 20+ person staff. The LIVES x Tech Ideathon, an AI-themed annual event focused on workplace inclusion for people with disabilities, and the 2026 LIVES TOKYO theme 'Hello, A.I.: Discover a New You' indicate recent thematic expansion into technology-enabled inclusion programming.
Hands On Tokyo is funded entirely through donations and fundraising events, with no fees charged to beneficiaries. Revenue streams include individual one-time and monthly recurring donations (Japanese Yen tax-deductible), corporate donations ranging from ¥3,000 to ¥1,000,000+ across 60+ corporate partners (AbbVie, Bank of America, Hilton, SAP, Standard Chartered, Visa, Zendesk, Braze, Edwards Lifesciences, Hays), ticket and table sales from the A Taste for Volunteering annual gala (¥35,000 per guest / ¥350,000 per table of 10), and grants. A $300,000 grant from the Hilton Global Foundation in December 2024 represents the largest disclosed single-inflow event, and a partnership with GlobalGiving enables cross-border tax-deductible giving. Distribution is primarily through a self-serve online event-calendar registration system, a direct corporate partnership program, and the LIVES Kitchen food truck rotating across corporate venues including DHL Shinagawa, Kotohira Shrine, Hilton Tokyo, and Toranomon Hills. The organization received the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology's Award in 2022 and is governed by a Board of Directors chaired by Ken Chan Chien-Wei, with Co-Executive Directors Ayami Azemoto and Yuko Saito leading day-to-day operations.
Hands On Tokyo firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Hands On Tokyo
- Legal name
- 認定特定非損益活動法人Hands On Tokyo
- Website
- https://handsontokyo.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2006
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Tokyo-based nonprofit founded in 2006, bilingual Japanese-English volunteer organization serving children, seniors, people with disabilities, refugees, and environmental causes across 105 partner organizations, funded by individual and corporate donations plus an annual gala.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Hands On Tokyo industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Volunteer Services
- NAICS
- Child and Youth Services (624110), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Disability Services & Assistive Solutions (Accessibility, Assistive Tech) (BPAGALAM)
Keywords
Where Hands On Tokyo is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Roppongi
- HQ country
- Japan
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices1 record
Markets served
Hands On Tokyo business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Individual Donations: Individual donors contribute through one-time or monthly recurring donations via credit card or bank transfer. Donations are tax-deductible in Japan as Hands On Tokyo is an Approved Specified Non-Profit Corporation certified by Tokyo Metropolitan Government since December 2017.
- Corporate Donations: Corporate partners make donations through the Corporate Volunteer Program, with amounts ranging from 3,000 yen to 1,000,000 yen or more. Major supporters include AbbVie, Bank of America, Hilton Tokyo, SAP Japan, and 60+ other corporations listed on their supporters page.
- Event Revenue: Annual fundraising gala 'A Taste for Volunteering' generates revenue through ticket sales (35,000 yen per guest or 350,000 yen per table of 10). Held at venues like Tokyo American Club and Capitol Hotel Tokyu.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Individual one-time or monthly donations |
| One time/ perpetual license | Annual | Corporate donation tiers |
| One time/ perpetual license | Monthly | A Taste for Volunteering gala tickets |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Hands On Tokyo product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Hands On Tokyo is a nonprofit volunteer organization that recruits, trains, and places individual and corporate volunteers into structured service programs across the Tokyo region. Its offerings include children's home support, special needs programs, environmental initiatives, senior care visits, and the LIVES Project for disability inclusion, serving beneficiaries through partner organizations.
Product overview
Hands On Tokyo is a bilingual volunteer organization offering a comprehensive portfolio of programs centered on community service and social inclusion. Its core offerings include the LIVES Project family (LIVES TOKYO annual events, LIVES KITCHEN food truck social enterprise, and LIVES x Tech Ideathon), the Youth Summit and Youth Impact Program for youth leadership development, Global Volunteer Month campaigns, and the annual A Taste for Volunteering fundraiser. The organization also runs Corporate and Individual Volunteer Programs, the AYUMO Project for Ukrainian evacuee support, and Super Diversity Volunteering for intergenerational engagement. In 2025, the organization facilitated 1,827 activities with 9,584 active volunteers serving 51,708 beneficiaries across 105 partner organizations.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- LIVES Project: A project to create an inclusive society where individuals with disabilities can work, eat, and laugh together. Includes LIVES TOKYO annual events, LIVES x Tech Ideathon, and LIVES KITCHEN food truck.
- Youth Impact
- AYUMO Project
- LIVES KITCHEN
- Youth Summit
- Global Volunteer Month
Products and services
- Children's Home Support Program Structured volunteer placements at children's homes in the Tokyo region, providing mentors and activity leaders for institutionalized and at-risk children.
- Special Needs Program Volunteer-led activities supporting individuals with special needs through partner organizations, including recreational outings and skill-building sessions.
- Environmental Program Volunteer-driven environmental conservation activities, including park cleanups, habitat restoration, and sustainability education.
- Senior Care Program Volunteer visits and companionship services for elderly residents at senior care facilities across Tokyo.
- LIVES Project Disability inclusion initiative supporting independent living, community participation, and recreational activities for people with disabilities.
Quantifiable outcome
- 1,827 volunteer activities conducted in 2025 with 51,708 beneficiaries reached
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Hands On Tokyo
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments7 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Hands On Tokyo technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Hands On Tokyo partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and secondary.
- Points of Light Foundation / Hands On NetworkcoreHands On Tokyo is the official Tokyo affiliate of the Points of Light Foundation and Hands On Network, the largest volunteer network in the United States with 177 HandsOn Action Centers in 38 countries. This affiliation provides international credibility, best practices, and network connections for volunteer programs.
- Achilles International JapancoreNPO collaborating on blind jogging program where volunteers serve as guide runners for visually impaired participants at Yoyogi Park and other locations.
- Arakawa Clean Aid ForumcoreNPO partner conducting river cleanup activities along the Arakawa River. In 2024, conducted 17 cleanups removing over 580 bags of trash. Also provides environmental education seminars.
- Ronald McDonald House Charities JapansecondaryCorporate volunteers support by cleaning and preparing meals for families staying at Ronald McDonald House facilities across ten locations in Japan.
- The Lifestyle Research Institute of ForestssecondaryNPO partner for forest conservation activities including tree cutting and planting to restore Japan's native forests and preserve biodiversity.
- Tokyo American ClubsecondaryVenue partner for annual fundraising gala 'A Taste for Volunteering' and Youth Summit events.
- Nogizaka KnightssecondarySports club for visually impaired individuals collaborating on diversity recreation programs where volunteers experience recreational challenges blindfolded.
- Cybozu Inc.secondaryCybozu provided venue for LIVES x Tech Ideathon 2024 at their Tokyo Nihonbashi Tower office (27th floor) for AI-focused inclusive technology event.
- DEAN & DELUCAsecondaryGlobal food boutique partner for LIVES Kitchen food truck project renewal, providing Chef's Lunch Box program and culinary expertise for inclusive employment initiative.
- GlobalGivingsecondaryUS and UK-registered nonprofit charity facilitating tax-deductible donations for Youth Impact Program and LIVES Food Truck Project.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Hands On Tokyo competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Idealist: Global volunteer and action opportunity platform. Comparable as a discovery and recruitment layer for volunteer-driven community impact, with a broader international footprint than Hands On Tokyo's Tokyo-centric operations.
- Catchafire: Skills-based volunteer platform connecting professionals with nonprofits. Comparable in volunteer-recruitment and engagement model, with focus on pro bono skills rather than Hands On Tokyo's mixed in-person and corporate volunteer projects.
- Do Something: US-based youth volunteer and social-change organization. Comparable youth-leadership and volunteer-engagement model to Hands On Tokyo's Youth Impact and Youth Summit programs.
- VolunteerMatch: US-based online volunteer matching platform connecting individuals with nonprofit opportunities. Comparable core mission of routing volunteers to community causes, with a digital-first distribution model rather than Hands On Tokyo's direct coordination.
- Habitat for Humanity Japan: Japan affiliate of the global volunteer-driven housing nonprofit. Comparable volunteer-recruitment, corporate-partnership, and donor-fundraising model serving community needs in Japan.
- Japan NPO Center: Japan-wide support organization for NPOs providing capacity-building, advocacy, and resources. Comparable as a Japan-based nonprofit infrastructure player with overlapping donor and partner networks.
- Tokyo Voluntary Action Center: Tokyo-based NPO coordinating volunteer activities and supporting community organizations. Highly comparable to Hands On Tokyo in mission, geography, and volunteer-recruitment model, and serves as a reference point for Tokyo volunteer infrastructure.
Others
- VolunteerHub: Volunteer management software vendor serving nonprofits. Comparable as enabling infrastructure for volunteer programs (registration, scheduling, hour tracking) similar to the back-end of Hands On Tokyo's event calendar system.
Broad incumbents
- Big Brothers Big Sisters International: Global volunteer-driven mentoring nonprofit. Comparable as a large-scale volunteer-led nonprofit with established corporate partnerships, structured program delivery, and youth-focused mission elements overlapping Hands On Tokyo's Youth Impact work.
- Points of Light Foundation / HandsOn Network: Hands On Tokyo's global parent affiliate network with 177 HandsOn Action Centers across 38 countries. Operates the same volunteer-led community-service model at much greater scale, providing best-practice sharing and brand alignment.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Hands On Tokyo social profiles
Digital presenceHands On Tokyo compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
Hands On Tokyo financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Hands On Tokyo leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Hands On Tokyo funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Hands On Tokyo M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Hands On Tokyo
What does Hands On Tokyo do?
Hands On Tokyo is a nonprofit volunteer organization that recruits, trains, and places individual and corporate volunteers into structured service programs across the Tokyo region. Its offerings include children's home support, special needs programs, environmental initiatives, senior care visits, and the LIVES Project for disability inclusion, serving beneficiaries through partner organizations.
Is Hands On Tokyo a public or private company?
Hands On Tokyo is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Hands On Tokyo founded?
Hands On Tokyo was founded in 2006. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Hands On Tokyo based?
Hands On Tokyo is headquartered in Roppongi, Japan, in the Asia region.
How does Hands On Tokyo make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Individual Donations are the primary driver. The others are corporate Donations and event Revenue.
Who are Hands On Tokyo's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Idealist, Catchafire, Do Something, VolunteerMatch, Habitat for Humanity Japan, Japan NPO Center and Tokyo Voluntary Action Center. VolunteerHub is listed as an others. Broad incumbents are Big Brothers Big Sisters International and Points of Light Foundation / HandsOn Network.
Does Hands On Tokyo have an API?
No public API is recorded for Hands On Tokyo.
What industry is Hands On Tokyo in?
Hands On Tokyo's product category is Volunteer Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGALAM, Disability Services & Assistive Solutions (Accessibility, Assistive Tech). Its NAICS code is 624110.