“I want all of you to be brave in practicing ‘small kindness,’ thereby creating a wave of kindness that will someday wash over all of Japanese society.”

These words were spoken in March 1963 by Seiji Kaya, then President of the University of Tokyo, in his farewell address to students on graduation day. His speech, reported in newspapers and on TV, marked the start of the Small Kindness Movement.

Our activities began in June 1963 with the plain and simple message, “Be kind to others.” We received support from many people in all walks of life, from ordinary citizens to those active in literature, business and the mass media. Our movement attracted much public attention throughout Japan, largely due to the fact that Tokyo was hosting the 1964 Summer Olympic Games the following year and the entire nation was preparing a warm welcome for overseas visitors.

When chosen as our first President, Seiji Kaya said, “The Small Kindness Movement aims to promote a caring society, where people are kind to each other and practice good manners. Such behaviour is especially important today, when humanitarian gestures tend to decline as mechanised civilisation thrives.” His ideas expressed at that time form the basis of our activities today.

“Let us put into practice whatever kindness we can so that it becomes the norm in society.” Under this slogan, the Small Kindness Movement has developed nationwide to have 35 prefectural member organisations with 170,000 members. They are engaged in various heart-warming activities in their communities.

We are continuing our efforts in the belief that what society needs most today is good will, as shown by small acts of kindness. We believe that these activities contribute much to society and to world peace.

Main Activities
“Let us show whatever kindness we can, so kindness will become the norm in society.” Based on this thought, the Small Kindness Movement organizes activities to encourage the practice of small acts of kindness to strengthen ties among its members and, above all, to encourage humanitarian behaviour.

Small Kindness Action Award

This award was instituted at the beginning of the movement. We receive recommendations from people who have seen individuals and organisations performing an act of kindness, and we award the recommended persons and organisations, and present them an honorary certificate. We consider both recipients and recommenders “Small Kindness” players. The award aims to motivate people to put kindness into action and expand the network of thoughtfulness.

Clean up Japan Campaign

Every year, with the slogan of “Clean Japan, Beautiful Soul,” 300,000 people across the country take part in cleaning activities in their neighbouring communities. By encouraging participants to pick up trash, the campaign aims to develop the habit of not littering. Members take part in the activity with their families and workplace colleagues. The programme encourages interaction among participants.

Composition Contest

This is held every year to help primary and lower secondary school children write their experiences of practicing kind acts and provide them with an opportunity to think about considerate thoughts and words. In evaluating the compositions, emphasis is given not only on children’s writing skills but also on their candid expression of feelings related to acts of kindness.

Postcard Campaign (Essay Contest)

We collect essays written on a postcard by people expressing their gratitude that they could not express at the time of having received kindness from others, or which they hesitate to express in daily life. People of all ages contribute their essays.

Supporting “Greeting Campaign”

Schools conduct the “Greeting Campaign” to help students acquire the habit of greeting others.  We support these schools by offering them banner flags, sashes and other goods. The number of primary and lower secondary schools conducting the “Greeting Campaign” using these goods is steadily increasing in the country. 

“Japanese Hospitable Welcome” Project

We began this project in 2018 in anticipation of the Olympics and Paralympics to be held in Tokyo in 2020. The aim of the project is to welcome visitors to a clean Japan, and with pleasant greetings and kind acts.

We promote the existing activities in collaboration with the “Tokyo 2020 Support Program”, which is authorised by the Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games.  In accordance, the “Tokyo 2020 Support Program” logo will be attached to the goods used for the activities. Themes focusing on connection with the world are designated for composition and essay contests. Deploying these and other activities, we intend to enhance the consciousness of participating in the Olympic and Paralympic Games among members in all places in Japan.

Kindness is important for people. Yet, it is expressed in different forms by individuals or nations. Admitting this, we would like to continue our Small Kindness Movement under the spirit of “You may go your way, and I go my way, but we go well together.”