The number of kodomo shokud¨ ¡°children¡¯s cafeterias,¡± which provide free or low-cost meals mainly to children in need in Japan, has reached a record 12,601 this fiscal year, according to a survey by a nonprofit organization.
The total rose by more than 1,700 from the previous fiscal year, said the survey released Thursday by Musubie, a Tokyo-based nonprofit supporting kodomo shokud¨ programs nationwide.
The nonprofit organization said the expansion reflected efforts by central and local governments to create comfortable spaces for children.
¡°We aim to create an environment that makes it easier to start and sustain kodomo shokud¨ programs,¡± Musubie head Rie Mishima said at a news conference.
Musubie also released the results of a separate survey conducted in July and August among the operators of 1,518 kodomo shokud¨ cafeterias across the country, which showed that 84.7% of respondents feel the impact of price increases on their activities.
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