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Late February 2020, I played tag at a park for the first time in a while.<\/p>\n
I had just finished an interview at a children\u2019s cafeteria in Tokyo\u2019s Itabashi City. The kids at the cafeteria pulled me towards the park with swings and slides, and we spent an hour and a half running around.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen are you coming next?\u201d A four-year-old girl asked when I told them I had to head home.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat days are you here?\u201d I said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m always here,\u201d she answered.<\/p>\n
This particular cafeteria is open from morning to night 365 days a year. It provides three meals per day free of charge for children from low-income households. Some of the kids aren\u2019t taken care of at home due to their parents\u2019 illness or neglect. The children\u2019s cafeteria isn\u2019t just a place offering free food, it’s a safe space.<\/p>\n
With the spread of Covid-19, schools, libraries, and public spaces are closed. Over 3,700 children\u2019s cafeterias around the country have decided to do the same. However, Shinji Rokugo (54), the cafeteria staff I interviewed, decided to take thorough infection control measures and keep the space open for the children who have nowhere else to go. I believe he made this decision because he knows that the kids who come here every day are counting on him.<\/p>\n
Occasionally, I recall that four-year-old girl. During the walk to the park, we held hands. I hope she\u2019s holding hands with someone today too. I will continue writing, so that others can also feel the warmth of her little hand.<\/p>\n