Abstract
In Japan, a social initiative, Kodomo shokudo, was initiated in 2012. These are free or low-cost cafeterias where children can come alone and feel safe. Within 10 years, more than 7000 such cafeterias were established across the country. Does it mean that activities expected of families in the past, such as feeding their children, have been created outside school lunches and markets? To get a closer look, we present the current situation of child poverty, which is one of the triggers for the spread of Kodomo shokudo, then present an overview and typology of Kodomo shokudo. Next, the environment surrounding family and child-rearing in Japan and the slow change in family norms related to child-rearing are discussed through the analysis of interviews.
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Acknowledgements
This chapter is based on a part of my doctoral dissertation and has been modified. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to those who participated in the interview survey and those who spoke to me. I would like to thank the editors for their many suggestions.
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Nanahoshi, J. (2023). Kodomo shokudo (Children’s Cafeterias): Changing Families and Social Inequality in Japan. In: Tanaka, K., Selin, H. (eds) Sustainability, Diversity, and Equality: Key Challenges for Japan. Science Across Cultures: The History of Non-Western Science, vol 13. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-36331-3_19
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