Our History

Kozue no Kai (NGO International Cooperation Support Group) was founded on July 24, 2015. It began as an organization supporting the Japan Self-Defense Forces, became an NGO for international cooperation in 2020, and shifted to Noto earthquake recovery support in 2024 — changing its main focus with the times while continuing for 11 years.

Based in Yokohama and Oku-Noto, we have built a record of cooperation with the police, the Self-Defense Forces, government agencies, foreign embassies, municipalities and facilities, overseas NGOs, and volunteer groups.

Founding Era (2015 - 2019)

Kozue no Kai was founded on July 24, 2015 as an organization supporting the Japan Self-Defense Forces. While serving as councilors and directors of the Toyama Prefecture and Toyama City SDF Family Associations — local branches of the National SDF Family Association — we held events such as welcome-home gatherings for returning personnel, SDF study sessions, and social gatherings.

By 2019, membership had grown to 121, and we continued as an organization rooted in the community.

International Aid Era (2020 - 2025)

From 2020, Kozue no Kai shifted its main focus to international cooperation. Under the slogan “Circles of goodwill, spread through raisins,” we donated 10–20 tonnes of California raisins each year to roughly 600 municipalities, care facilities, hospitals, children’s cafeterias, disaster areas, overseas NGOs, and volunteer groups.

We have received many letters of appreciation from recipients.

If you would like to receive California raisins, please contact us through the inquiry form.

Oku-Noto Support Era (2024 - present)

At 4:10 p.m. on January 1, 2024, the Noto Peninsula Earthquake struck. As our chairman is from Toyama and has long-standing ties to Noto, Kozue no Kai shifted its main focus to disaster-recovery support. We have continued on-the-ground assistance, carrying out 50 relief missions in total as of May 2026.

Our main support has included donations of food, drinking water, furniture and appliances, and daily necessities, as well as arranging performers — comedians, idols, and Japanese traditional dance — for events and coordinating monetary donations, all in cooperation with local residents.