Key Points
- Two former childcare workers established the company “Coan” to provide specialized support for families that traditional nurseries cannot offer.
- Following the Noto Peninsula earthquake, children lost access to parks and schools, many of which were repurposed for temporary housing or construction.
- A temporary play space featuring pools and bouncy castles was created at Miyazaki Farm to give children a place to play and parents a place to decompress.
- The initiative serves as a vital emotional outlet, allowing children to process trauma through play and parents to share their struggles in a safe environment.
- The organizers are currently running a crowdfunding campaign to sustain these community support activities through the autumn.
Full Transcript (English)
Host: We are here at Miyazaki Farm. It seems you’ve set up quite a play area here.
Guest (Nakamura): Yes, right now we are collaborating with the after-school club. Since it was summer vacation in August, the children from the club have been coming here to play. I’m actually about to go pick some of them up now; they should be back shortly.
Host: You two used to work together, right?
Guest (Nakamura): That’s right. We worked at the same nursery school until this past March. Our company is called Coan.
Host: What led you to start this company?
Guest (Nakamura): While working at the nursery, we realized there were many things we wanted to do but couldn’t within that framework. We wanted to provide support that was more closely tailored to individual families. For example, there are many mothers who want to attend study sessions or work late, but they have nowhere to leave their children. We felt that by starting our own business, we could better support those households. One of our main services is providing on-site childcare for companies.
Host: Starting a business is a big step.
Guest (Nakamura): We talked about it for a long time. Because there were two of us, we felt brave enough to take that first step. We didn’t have any business knowledge, so we’ve been learning one step at a time through a startup support office. We officially launched in May, and then the earthquake hit just three months later.
Host: This is a private garden, isn’t it? How did this collaboration start?
Guest (Colleague): We weren’t originally acquaintances. We wanted to create a place for children as volunteers, so we searched for a location. We called evacuation centers, but they were crowded and didn’t have space for a dedicated kids’ area or childcare. While searching, we were introduced to the owner of this farm who was running a pool in their yard alone and needed extra hands. It was a perfect match, and we started helping out in early August.
Host: And the children are still coming?
Guest (Colleague): Yes, even today, though it’s a bit chilly, they are straight into the pool. You can’t stop them! Many of their parents are still busy with house repairs or filing disaster paperwork, so they rely on the after-school club. Also, temporary housing is being built on the parks where they used to play, and school gyms are often unusable. There is a lot of dust from construction nearby, so they can’t play outside much. They really need a place to just let loose.
Host: It’s been over a month since the earthquake. From the outside, it might look like things are settling down, but is that the case?
Guest (Colleague): Not at all. Many people are still coming from areas where water hasn’t been restored or they are still moving between shelters. Even if their own situation is difficult, they see others who have lost more and feel they can’t complain. They bottle it up. By coming here, they can talk to us—since we are from outside the immediate area—and finally express how hard it has been. It’s a place for the parents to find some relief too.
Host: I see the children playing on the swings and even playing “earthquake games.”
Guest (Colleague): Yes, they process their scary experiences by turning them into play. We watch over them, and sometimes they start telling us exactly what happened to them during the quake. If they can leave here with a smile, that makes us happy. We’ve seen children who used to cling to their parents now able to play freely here.
Host: How long will you continue this?
Guest (Nakamura): We will provide this play space through the end of September. After that, we are planning a larger event on October 24th in Miyahara. To keep these activities going and to organize events where families can enjoy themselves together, we do need funding for equipment and operations. That’s why we’ve started a crowdfunding campaign. We want people to feel that this region is still a great place to live, despite everything.
