This audio is generated by AI, so pronunciation and expressions may not be fully accurate. The narration is only in English.
Komaji no Uchi was established in October 2013 in response to local calls for a community space, as a joint effort by the Bunkyo City Community Center, the Council of Social Welfare, and leaders from 12 neighborhood associations in the Komagome district. The space was opened to the public within just six months of the executive committee being formed in April. Akimoto Yasuo, then vice-chair of a Komagome district neighborhood association, had offered up the vacant house he owned as a community space that could facilitate natural, spontaneous interactions, and serve as a foundation for the warm interpersonal relationships of traditional neighborhood life.
Now, 12 years later, the space is operated by 5 core staff and approximately 20 volunteers. In the monthly operation meetings, which are attended by regional welfare coordinators from the Council of Social Welfare, they reflect on their activities and discuss new projects.
At the heart of the activities at Komaji no Uchi is "Café Koma," a café space open Tuesday to Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Anybody is free to drop in, have some tea, and enjoy some conversation.
Most visitors live within walking distance and are from a wide range of age groups, from infants to those in their 90s. There is a fee of 100 yen per person, but operations are purposely kept relaxed and relatively "unmanaged." The staff even avoid wearing name tags in order to remove barriers and create an atmosphere that facilitates friendly conversation.
"The only three things that are not allowed are political, religious, and sales activities. Aside from that, people are generally free to eat, drink, and socialize however they like," says director Funasaki Toshiko with a smile.
Komaji no Uchi also hosts various fun programs for visitors alongside the café, such as "Group Calisthenics," "Go Game Class," and "Keeping the Brain Sharp with Mah Jong." Other offerings include a "Chat Café" operated by volunteer listeners, and a "Community Health Room" that started in May 2025 with visiting public health nurses, both held twice a month. On Saturdays, children come to study under the "Teramacchi" academic support program. The adjacent Komapiyo no Ouchi is a childcare plaza that serves toddlers under the age of three, and visitors going back and forth between the shared programs in the two spaces promote natural intergenerational exchange.
In October 2023, Komaji no Uchi introduced a senior cafeteria for seniors living alone, with support from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government (TMG)'s "TOKYO Longevity Social Cafeteria Promotion Program." The program supports so-called "senior cafeterias" where local elderly residents can casually drop by, enjoy a meal, and engage in social interaction.
The senior cafeteria at Komaji no Uchi is held once a month and typically draws around ten participants each time. The gathering begins with some light calisthenics, followed by a shared lunch that includes the staff. The nutritionally-balanced Japanese meals are all homemade by staff, and feature meat and fish, two side dishes, miso soup, and rice. The staff tell us that these heartfelt, home-cooked meals are a particular comfort to seniors living alone.
"They especially love when we have fish, like simmered fish. You rarely get to buy and cook fish when you live on your own," says a female staff member, who lives alone herself. The staff say that many of the participants in the senior cafeteria also stay after the meal to enjoy a leisurely chat at Café Koma.
According to projections by the National Institute of Population and Social Security Research, the number of seniors aged 65 and older living alone in Tokyo will grow from 890,000 in 2020 to 1.48 million by 2050. By then, single-person households of those aged 65 and older living alone will account for 18.7% of all households in Tokyo—nearly one in every five homes.
The TMG is implementing a number of initiatives in anticipation of this increasingly aging society.
In addition to the "TOKYO Longevity Social Cafeteria Promotion Program," it is also advancing efforts to promote initiatives that support community living and prevent the need for long-term care. One such initiative is the "Social Participation Matching in an Era of People Living for 100 Years," which aims to encourage ongoing community involvement among seniors and pre-seniors by offering information on job opportunities, educational programs, hobbies, and local activities in ways that are tailored to individual interests.
The future envisioned by the TMG is a choju-shakai (longevity society) in which everyone is able to lead a vibrant and healthy life well into old age. To support this vision, the city is supporting initiatives that encourage seniors to stay active and manage their own health, utilizing tools such as point-based reward systems and digital technologies.
While initiatives to support the lives of seniors continue to expand, challenges such as the aging of staff involved in community activities and a general shortage of labor persist, underscoring the growing need for sustained support systems that can reliably back on-the-ground efforts.
Komaji no Uchi is operated through a well-balanced collaboration between the local administration, privately-run social welfare council, and neighborhood associations. Seen as a successful example of community place-making, it has garnered attention from a wide range of sectors.
"From Hokkaido in the north to Okinawa in the south, we get visitors coming in to see how we operate, and sometimes we even go to them to explain how it all works," says executive director Minawa Takeshi.
Japan is not alone in facing the challenges of an aging society. Komaji no Uchi has also welcomed site visits from overseas—countries such as South Korea, Thailand, European countries, and the USA—highlighting the growing interest in strategies for aging societies and community-building.
"It feels like coming home to my parents' house, and puts me at ease." "I always look forward to coming here and chatting." Indeed, for visitors of all ages, Komaji no Uchi has become an essential gathering place. The same holds true for the staff, many of whom have been volunteering at the space for over a decade—familiar members watching over and protecting the place over the years.
"Having somewhere to go and something to do gives me energy every day," says Yamagami Ryoichi, who has worked as staff at Komaji no Uchi since January 2014. One female staff member who has volunteered for over a decade while also working, tells us, "I had to take a year-long break to handle some family matters, but when I came back, I was welcomed as always with so much warmth. This place has always been in my heart—it's where I belong."
In today's so-called "100-year life era," ensuring that seniors remain mentally and physically well and happy, may depend most on whether they have places that protect against isolation.
Komaji no Uchi is a community-rooted space that fosters lasting relationships. Today too, its doors are open.
