As many people refrain from going out, some children have fewer places where they feel safe and more kids are using our cafeterias. Now, more than ever, we need to provide places for children since many of them have family problems.

Tomio Fujii, 73, chief director of Oita-based Sumire gakkyu, which runs seven children’s cafeterias in Oita Prefecture. Such cafeterias all over Japan not only provide meals to children of financially struggling families but also help detect child abuse and neglect cases.

© Asahi Shimbun