Kumamoto Children's Cafeteria Network

What Kumamoto Children's Cafeteria Network does

Kumamoto Children's Cafeteria Network (熊本こども食堂ネットワーク) is a Japanese general incorporated association (一般社団法人) that functions as the central coordinating body for children's cafeterias across Kumamoto Prefecture. Its activities originated in 2016 in response to the Kumamoto earthquake and were formalized as a legal entity in 2020, by which point it had aggregated approximately 229 member cafeterias that provide free or low-cost meals to children and families facing food insecurity. The organization does not operate cafeterias directly; instead it acts as an intermediary that provides operational support, fundraising, food-sourcing logistics, training, and inter-cafeteria knowledge sharing to locally run, volunteer-staffed sites.

Its core "products" are non-commercial services: a coordination platform linking roughly 229 sites, a food-collection and redistribution channel sourced from corporate partners (notably FamilyMart via a nationwide food drive), grant-funded program support, and a credit-union-linked donation mechanism established under a three-party agreement with Kumamoto Prefecture and Kumamoto Credit Union. There is no proprietary software platform or technology stack described; operations are administered through a public website (kumamoto-ks.com) and standard organizational workflows.

The business model is grant- and donation-funded rather than revenue-generating. Funding sources include the WAM Social Welfare Promotion Grant, the F-Pico Environmental Fund, allocations under the Musubie Dormant Deposit Utilization Framework, individual donations, and corporate partnership contributions. Membership fees, transaction revenue, or commercial pricing are not part of the model. Customer segments are member cafeterias (network members), end beneficiaries (children and families), and counterparties (prefectural government, credit unions, and corporate donors). Leadership comprises Representative Director Shimada Mari and Chairperson Takebashi Noriko, headquartered in Kumamoto City (Higashi-ku, Sakuragi 2-16-31).

Name

Kumamoto Children's Cafeteria Network

Legal name

一般社団法人 熊本県こども食堂ネットワーク

Website

https://kumamoto-ks.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Kumamoto Children's Cafeteria Network is a Japanese non-profit that coordinates roughly 229 volunteer-run children's cafeterias in Kumamoto Prefecture, providing food sourcing, fundraising, training, and operational support to combat child food insecurity.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Social Welfare Services

NAICS

Community Food Services (62421), Educational Support Services (611710), Special Food Services (7223)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Facilities Support Management Services (8744), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Food Service & Dining Operations Management (Managed Cafeterias) (EDAEALAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

School Feeding & Social Protection Partnerships (Conditional Cash Transfers, etc.) (EDADALAL), Meal Distribution, Serving Lines & Point-of-Sale (Cafeteria Service) (EDAEAEAF), Meal Program Compliance & Administration (NSLP/SBP, Reimbursements) (EDAEAEAC)

Keywords

• Children's cafeteria support
• Community meal programs
• Food donation coordination
• Child welfare services
• Social welfare intermediary

Headquarters

HQ city

Kumamoto City (熊本市)

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Grants: The network raises funds through individual donations, corporate donations, and government grant programs including WAM (福祉医療機構) grants, dormant deposit funds (休眠預金活用事業), F-Pico Environmental Fund grants, and local government subsidies. Revenue is used to support member children's cafeterias with food supplies, equipment, insurance, and operational assistance.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

The Kumamoto Children's Cafeteria Network is a nonprofit general incorporated association that serves as the central coordinating body for children's cafeterias across Kumamoto Prefecture. It recruits and supports member children's cafeterias by distributing donated food and supplies, providing operational guidance, subsidizing insurance and food hygiene certification costs, facilitating training workshops and networking events, and assisting new cafeteria operators with setup. The network partners with municipalities, credit unions, agricultural cooperatives, and corporate donors to strengthen the children's cafeteria ecosystem in the region.

Product overview

Kumamoto Children's Cafeteria Network (熊本県こども食堂ネットワーク) is a general incorporated association that serves as a coordinating body supporting children's cafeterias (子ども食堂) across Kumamoto prefecture. The organization does not offer a traditional technology product but provides support services to its member cafeterias, including food and material distribution, operational support, training workshops, new cafeteria opening assistance, and disaster response coordination. The network acts as an intermediary, connecting member cafeterias with donors, local governments, corporations, and agricultural partners.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Food and Material Distribution Support

Quantifiable outcome

• In Kumamoto Prefecture, 229 children's cafeterias are operating across the prefecture as of December 2025 (target: one cafeteria per elementary school district, 327 total). Nationally, there are 12,602 children's cafeterias.

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

21 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and moderate.

• Kumamoto Prefecture (熊本県)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Kumamoto Prefecture entered into a three-party partnership agreement with the network and Kumamoto Credit Union to promote and support children's cafeterias across the prefecture. The prefecture is also a partner in the 'Children's Cafeteria as Hub' regional resource circulation promotion project.
• Kumamoto Credit Union (熊本県信用組合)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA three-party cooperation agreement was signed between Kumamoto Prefecture, Kumamoto Credit Union, and the network. The credit union also launched a 'Children's Cafeteria Support Time Deposit' product, with a portion of interest donated to the network. Donated 1 million yen from the program.
• Kumamoto City (熊本市)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKumamoto City signed a new cooperation agreement with the network and other child welfare organizations to support new children's cafeteria initiatives in the city.
• 認定、特定非営利活動法人全国こども食堂支援センター・むすびえ (National Children's Cafeteria Support Center Musubie)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe network collaborates with the national support center Musubie, which conducts annual national cafeteria counts, provides grants, and coordinates disaster relief support for children's cafeterias. Musubie's director visited Kumamoto following the 2026 earthquake.
• 天草こども未来ネットワーク結の手 (Amakusa Children's Future Network Yukunote)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerA cooperation agreement for children's cafeteria promotion between Amakusa Children's Future Network and the network's Hitoyoshi branch.
• Minami-Aso Village (南阿蘇村)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAn inclusive cooperation agreement for solving regional issues was signed between Minami-Aso Village, the Minami-Aso Village Agricultural Future Public Corporation, and the network.
• 平田機工株式会社 (Hirata Kiko Corporation)moderateGTM or Marketing PartnerCollaborative partner in food drive events at Roasso Kumamoto and Kumamoto Volcan home games. The company has conducted enterprise visits and provided warm words and proposals for children's cafeteria support.
• 熊本キワニスクラブ / Kumamoto Kiwanis ClubmoderateGTM or Marketing PartnerThe Kiwanis club's children's cafeteria committee co-sponsors the annual network festival and has provided donations. The network's representative also serves as chair of the Kiwanis children's cafeteria committee.
• 熊本県高尔夫协会 (Kumamoto Golf Association)moderateGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-sponsored the 'Children's Cafeteria Festival' at Kumamoto Airport Eminas pool with Kumamoto Kiwanis Club. Also organized charity golf events with donations to the network.
• Roasso Kumamoto / 熊本ヴォルターズ (Kumamoto Volcan)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerSports clubs that collaborated with the network and Hirata Kiko on food drive activities during home games.
• FamilyMart (ファミリーマート)moderateGTM or Marketing PartnerFamilyMart launched a nationwide food drive program with cooperation agreements with the network, distributing collected food items to member children's cafeterias across Kumamoto Prefecture starting August 2021.
• 熊本トヨタ自動車株式会社 (Kumamoto Toyota Motor Corporation)moderateGTM or Marketing PartnerRegular corporate supporter conducting food drives across multiple stores, providing weekly food donations to the network. Also provided disaster relief inventory replacements and rice donations.
• 株式会社共同 (Kyodo Corporation)moderateGTM or Marketing PartnerDeveloped and donated a special meat patty (ミートパテ) specifically for use in children's cafeterias. Regular meetings and collaboration to expand food donations to member cafeterias.
• 大豊食品株式会社 (Ohtoyo Foods Corporation)moderateGTM or Marketing PartnerDonated a commercial freezer (冷凍ストッカー) and regularly provides frozen croquettes, ebi-katsu, and other processed foods to member cafeterias.
• 九電工株式会社 (Kyudenko Corporation)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerDonated 500kg of rice to the network at a formal donation ceremony.
• 九電aski生活協同組合 (Kyushu Electric Power Life Cooperative)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerConducted a social contribution activity donating funds to the network.
• 熊本ゼルパック (Kumamoto Zelpack) / F-Pico Environmental FundmoderateGTM or Marketing PartnerProvided grants for purchasing food drying equipment, a dry cooker, and other kitchen equipment for the network's hub. Supports food loss reduction activities.
• 熊本市農業協同組合 (JA Kumamoto Central Union)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerDonated 500kg of rice to the network along with the Kumamoto Goodwill Bank.
• 株式会社LibWorkminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDonated funds to the network at a formal ceremony. The company is based in Yamaga City and is engaged in SDG activities.
• 熊本善意銀行 (Kumamoto Goodwill Bank)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerDonated a set of seasonings (miso, sugar, powdered dashi, oil, salt, mirin) to member cafeterias along with JA Kumamoto.
• 社会福祉法人熊本県ひとり親家庭福祉協議会 (Kumamoto Single-Parent Family Welfare Council)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConsortium partner in the dormant deposit-funded 'Children's Watchcare Network' project. Seven organizations participate including the NPO Poppins Kumamoto, Kumamoto Social Workers Association, Shinguma Kumamoto Supporter Group, and others.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Musubie (認定NPO法人全国こども食堂支援センター・むすびえ): National Children's Cafeteria Support Center — the umbrella body for the children's cafeteria movement in Japan, conducting the annual national count survey, providing grants, and coordinating disaster response. Directly comparable as a coordinating/support NPO for children's cafeterias; the Kumamoto network is an explicit operational partner.
• Amakusa Children's Future Network Yukunote (天草こども未来ネットワーク結の手): A regional children's cafeteria and child welfare support network in Amakusa (Kumamoto Prefecture) that has a formal cooperation agreement with the Kumamoto Children's Cafeteria Network's Hitoyoshi branch. Operates the same member-coordinator model for a sub-region of the same prefecture.
• NPO Poppins Kumamoto (NPO法人ポピンズくまもと): Consortium partner in the 'Children's Watchcare Network' project funded by dormant deposits, alongside the Kumamoto Single-Parent Family Welfare Council. A child welfare NPO operating in Kumamoto on overlapping beneficiary populations (low-income and single-parent families) and complementary program areas (childcare, after-school support).
• Tokyo Kodomo Shokudo Network (東京こども食堂ネットワーク): Regional coordinating network for children's cafeterias in Tokyo, operating the same intermediary model — recruiting members, distributing donated food, and providing operational support. Direct functional equivalent of the Kumamoto network but for the Tokyo metropolitan area.
• Osaka Children's Cafeteria Support Network (大阪こども食堂ネットワーク): Osaka-based regional children's cafeteria coordinating body. Operates the same member-coordinator/support model for a different urban prefecture, with comparable municipal partnership structures and corporate donor engagement.

Broad incumbents

• Second Harvest Japan (セカンドハーベスト・ジャパン): Japan's first and largest food bank, distributing surplus food to NPOs and welfare organizations nationwide. A larger, more established player in the community food services space; the Kumamoto network receives redistributed food through similar channels and serves a comparable vulnerable-population mission.
• TABLE FOR TWO International: Japan-originated nonprofit addressing child hunger and obesity through school and corporate meal programs. Operates a broader, internationally-scoped mission that overlaps with the children's cafeteria movement's nutrition and food access goals.

Regional players

• Fukushima Children's Cafeteria Network (福島こども食堂連絡会): Regional children's cafeteria coordinating body in Fukushima Prefecture, born from post-disaster community reconstruction. Operates a similar model in a different geography, with comparable disaster-response and community-resilience functions.

Others

• FamilyMart (food drive / CSR program): Convenience store chain running a nationwide food drive with cooperation agreements with the Kumamoto network since August 2021. Functions as a major supply-side donor/partner, not a competitor, but materially shapes the network's food distribution capabilities.
• Kumamoto Single-Parent Family Welfare Council (社会福祉法人熊本県ひとり親家庭福祉協議会): Social welfare council and consortium partner in the dormant-deposit-funded Children's Watchcare Network project. Adjacent social welfare organization serving overlapping beneficiary populations (low-income and single-parent families in Kumamoto), useful as a referral and co-programming counterpart.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/kumamotokenkodomoshokudo.net
• Instagraminstagram.com/kumamotoken_kodomosyokudou_net/?hl=ja

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Kumamoto Children's Cafeteria Network