Rescuing usable food, daily goods, and household items, and delivering them to people and welfare organisations that need them.

Location:  Chigasaki, Kanagawa, Japan - and supporting overseas

Mission:

Mottainai Japan works from the spirit of “mottainai” - the belief that valuable resources should not be wasted.

They collect food, daily necessities, and other usable goods from households and companies, then deliver them to welfare organisations, individuals, disaster-affected areas, and others who need support, both in Japan and overseas.

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Who we are

Mottainai Japan is a certified Japanese NPO based in Chigasaki, Kanagawa.

The organization began from NPO activities in 2007, when they collected unwanted books and used them for social contribution.
Through that work, they realized that many people also wanted to donate other useful items, such as food, clothing, and daily goods. This led to the creation of the current NPO in 2016.

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Our core approach

They collect food that can still be eaten and daily goods that can still be used from households, companies, and local producers, then deliver them to welfare organizations, children’s cafeterias, disaster-affected areas, and people who need support.
 

Rather than letting valuable items be discarded, Mottainai Japan returns unused resources back into society as practical support.

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Our activities

• Food bank activities

  • Mottainai Japan receives food donations from households, companies, and local farmers. These are food items that can still be eaten but may otherwise be discarded. The donated food is delivered to children’s cafeterias, welfare facilities, and other places where it can help.
     

• Receiving, sorting, and sending donated goods

  • Mottainai Japan receives a wide range of donated items from households and companies, including daily necessities, household goods, used books, and clothing. These items are sorted and delivered to people and communities that need them.
     

• Supporting welfare organisations and communities in need

  • Mottainai Japan sends donated food and goods to welfare organizations, children’s cafeterias, disaster-affected areas, and individuals who need support, mainly in Japan, with some support also reaching overseas.
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• Accepting financial donations to support logistics and operations

  • Mottainai Japan also accepts financial donations. These funds are used for transportation, storage, office operations, and activity costs, or donated to suitable nonprofit and welfare organisations.

The challenges we face
 

• Usable food and daily goods are still being discarded

  • Mottainai Japan receives food from households, companies, and local farmers that can still be eaten but would otherwise be thrown away. They also collect daily goods and household items that can still be used, and work to return these resources to society instead of letting them go to waste.
     

• Many communities and facilities still need practical supplies

  • Mottainai Japan says there are many areas and facilities in Japan where supplies are lacking, while usable items are still being discarded or left unused. They deliver donated food and goods to children’s cafeterias, welfare facilities, people facing hardship, and communities affected by disasters.
     

• Logistics and operating costs make redistribution possible

  • Financial donations help cover the transportation and storage of food and goods, as well as office and operating costs. Mottainai Japan states that continued cooperation and support are essential for its ongoing activities.

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How You Can Help

Your support helps Mottainai Japan continue collecting, sorting, storing, and delivering usable food, daily goods, and household items to welfare organisations, children’s cafeterias, disaster-affected areas, and people who need support.
 

They accept support through financial donations, goods donations, and other items such as gift cards, unused postcards, stamps, and vouchers. Financial donations are used for transporting and storing food and goods, maintaining operations, supporting Mottainai Japan’s activities, or donating to appropriate nonprofit and welfare organisations.

Currently, this site only accepts financial donations.
If you’d like to support in other ways, please email us here at KiFor

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• ¥1,000 / ¥3,000 / ¥5,000 / ¥10,000 → All donations help Mottainai Japan continue its work to collect, sort, store, and deliver usable food and daily goods to welfare organisations, children’s cafeterias, disaster-affected areas, and people in need.
   

What you receive in return

• The opportunity to support a Japanese NPO reducing waste and turning unused resources into practical help

• Greater awareness of food loss, goods redistribution, and community support in Japan

• A practical way to help Mottainai Japan deliver food, daily goods, and household items to welfare organisations, disaster-affected areas, and people in need

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