It is difficult to imagine hunger and poverty strikes those living in a land of abundance. But even in a country like Japan famous for technological advancements, low-crime statistics, and preservation of tradition, there are a great number of children, adults, and elderly who are in great need. Wakamatsu Children Restaurant is one of many organizations that aims to shed light on the socio-economic challenges faced by the people of Tokyo while providing relief through their bi-weekly kitchen where they prepare delicious meals for sale at a nominal fee. As the Program Director shared with us, many of their clients come from single-parent homes, families living with disabilities, and those who have fallen on hard times due to rising cost of living in the big city. Respecting everyone’s privacy, never making them feel as if they are receiving a handout, and keeping the programs fun and engaging, are all part of the reasons why Wakamatsu has grown to become a local favorite.
Rimini Street Team Japan had the honor of joining the volunteers of Wakamatsu Children Restaurant to create an entire Myanmar inspired dinner menu from scratch. We diced, chopped, sautéed, seasoned, and stirred up quite the spread of soup, curry, side vegetables, rice, and dessert. At the end of the day when all the dishes and the kitchen were cleared, washed, and sanitized, we presented the Wakamatsu Program Director with a special donation to continue serving their delicious meals to our community friends. We are so thankful to the Wakamatsu Children’s Restaurant for a chance to take part in their dinner service while learning a few new recipes for our own repertoire!
