Making a Difference Step by Step
This May will mark a major milestone for the ACCJ–Chubu community: the 35th anniversary of the Chubu Walkathon International Charity Festival. You're invited to join the celebration and make a difference.
The Chubu Walkathon invites you to celebrate 35 years of community support.
Photos By Andy Boone
This May will mark a major milestone for the ACCJ–Chubu community: the 35th anniversary of the Chubu Walkathon International Charity Festival. What began in 1992 as a small, collaborative effort between US businesses and local partners has grown into the region’s most visible international charity event—uniting thousands each year for a day of walking, food, entertainment, and community support.
Cofounder Robert Roche, now ACCJ vice president–Chubu, still remembers the first event. “Large corporations were coming to Nagoya saying, ‘It’s our culture in America to give back to the local community,’” he recalled with a laugh. “Harry Hill and I were the young guys doing most of the legwork while they got the spotlight—but in all seriousness, they were the ones who showed us how to do business the right way. Their guidance in those early years gave us a solid foundation, and the relationships we built—with orphanages, schools, and local charities, as well as sponsors like Kondo Sanko, are the reason the Walkathon is still going strong 35 years later.”
Since then, the Walkathon has contributed ¥196 million to organizations across the Chubu region, supporting children in foster care, individuals with illnesses or disabilities, families affected by domestic violence, Tohoku earthquake and tsunami relief, and many others. Over the five years from 2019 to 2023, donations averaged more than ¥5 million per year. The event continued to deliver strong results even through the heart of the pandemic thanks to organizers getting creative with a format that allowed participation amid social distancing.
Community Bridge
The Walkathon is jointly organized by the ACCJ–Chubu Community Service Committee and Nagoya International School (NIS). For event leaders Nao Geisler, Bryce Conlan, and Erik Olson-Kikuchi, the Walkathon is as much about community-building as it is about fundraising.
“Being part of the Walkathon is an immense honor,” said Geisler, who is chair of the committee. “It serves as a bridge between local and international communities. It’s not just raising money—it’s raising awareness, fostering cultural exchange, and demonstrating our commitment to central Japan.”
Fundraising, she added, is only the starting point. “When donations are transformed into real support, it gives people comfort and hope—things they may not be able to create alone.”
At recent donation ceremonies, charities shared messages such as “Your support allowed us to continue assisting children” and “We were able to start a new program thanks to your help.” Conlan, the committee vice-chair, said these words remind us why our work matters.
Festivities with Purpose
The Walkathon remains a highlight of the spring calendar for families across the region. The event features:
- A symbolic walk course through Meijo Park
- Live music, dance, and cultural performances
- Face-painting, crafts, and activities for kids
- An international food court and vendors
- Charity information booths
- A large-scale raffle (100 percent of proceeds donated)
All purchases are made with Walkathon food and activity tickets, and 100 percent of all activity purchases and 20 percent of food purchases are donated.
Celebrating 35 Years
To mark the anniversary, organizers are planning enhanced programming, a retrospective exhibit on the event’s history, and a new “35 Challenges” initiative— including a lead-up program called Walk 3.5K for 35 Days. The committee is also working to raise in excess of ¥15 million, its most ambitious target to date.
Roche hopes this year will set a precedent for the future. “We want this to be a 70-year, even 100-year tradition,” he said. “There’s no reason it can’t continue as long as the community keeps working together.”
He also hopes to see the largest turnout yet. “We’re aiming for more than 3,000 participants. We’ll be sending letters to members—hopefully everyone can help a little.”
Why It Matters
The Walkathon is widely regarded as the ACCJ–Chubu Chapter’s most impactful corporate social responsibility initiative. It strengthens trust between international businesses and local communities, demonstrates long-term commitment, and creates a welcoming environment where residents from Japan and abroad can connect over a shared humanitarian purpose. The Walkathon has also strengthened the ACCJ’s role in the community, highlighting the international business community’s long-standing commitment of contributing to the well-being of the Chubu region.
Join Us in May
With its mix of community spirit, cultural exchange, and real social impact, the Walkathon continues to embody the best of what international collaboration can achieve.
The organizing committee invites companies, families, and individuals to participate, volunteer, or sponsor the event—and to help make the 35th anniversary the strongest year yet.
The 35th Annual Chubu Walkathon takes place May 24. Companies interested in sponsoring are encouraged to contact the ACCJ–Chubu office at chubu@accj.or.jp.
No-Show Charity Ball
Last year, the coronavirus pandemic made planning one of the biggest dates on the American Chamber of Commerce in Japan (ACCJ) calendar difficult, and the Charity Ball Committee (CBC) rose to the challenge with a successful online event that raised more than ¥7.4 million—topping the 2019 gala. Despite the hope that 2021 would see a return to the traditional format, it was once again impossible to plan such an event, so a fun and exciting online auction and raffle which will run December 1–11.
Annual ACCJ gala offers a chance to give through virtual raffle and auction
Last year, the coronavirus pandemic made planning one of the biggest dates on the American Chamber of Commerce in Japan (ACCJ) calendar difficult, and the Charity Ball Committee (CBC) rose to the challenge with a successful online event that raised more than ¥7.4 million—topping the 2019 gala.
Despite the hope that 2021 would see a return to the traditional format, it was once again impossible to plan such an event. But as a cornerstone of the chamber’s fundraising for community support, the Charity Ball remains a top priority and the CBC has organized a fun and exciting online auction and raffle which will run December 1–11.
“Though much has changed over the past year, what remains consistent is ACCJ members’ passion for supporting and contributing to the communities in which we live and work,” said ACCJ President Jenifer Rogers. “Each year, we are grateful for ACCJ members’ enthusiastic and generous participation in the Charity Ball. This year is no exception.”
Charities
The CBC and the Community Service Advisory Council select several charities to promote, publicize, and support each year with the funds raised through the Charity Ball. Favored are smaller non-profit organizations (NPOs) with specific needs that work to help the homeless and support women’s issues, children, education, and US–Japan relations. Three NPOs to which the ACCJ donated in 2021 through the Community Service Fund are:
- Hands On Tokyo, which focuses on children’s homes, disaster relief, and those with special needs
- Mirai no Mori, which creates life-changing outdoor programs for abused, neglected, and orphaned children in Japan
- Save Food, which provides cooked food through Commune, a cafeteria where people can have meals together and connect
This year, the chosen charities focus on the homeless through the long-established Mike Makino Fund, which supports the Sanyukai homeless shelter as well as the Franciscan Chapel Center and Tokyo Union Church rice programs.
Money raised through this year’s Charity Ball will also support the ACCJ Community Service Funds for Tokyo and Kansai, which traditionally help our communities through food banks, local children’s homes, and programs that assist these shelters for at-risk children and women. For the first time, the ACCJ Kansai chapter is collaborating with the Tokyo chapter on fundraising through the Charity Ball.
“The Community Service Fund is an important part of our charitable giving as it enables us to respond quickly to urgent needs and emergencies that come up,” explained Barbara Hancock, who chairs the CBC and works each year with vice-chairs Lori Hewlett and Kevin Naylor to plan the big event.
Community
Many great entertainers have lent their talents to the Charity Ball over the years, including:
- Steve Gardner
- Felix Sonnyboy
- Kevin McHugh
- Erika Abe
- And more to come!
Due to restrictions on public gatherings, many have lost the opportunities to perform and make a living during the past two years. The CBC would like to highlight them this year and hope that you will support them as they recover from the pandemic.
Likewise, restaurants that have supported the Charity Ball, including Soul Food House and Devil Craft, have also faced businesses challenges, and the CBC encourages you to help these beloved members of our culinary community.
Auction
Singer-songwriter Felix Sonnyboy, in collaboration with artist Erika Abe, is auctioning off a one-of-a-kind, hand-painted sunflower-themed ukulele. The price for this item will include a one-hour ukulele lesson with Sonnyboy and a one-hour painting demo with Abe.
Together with Rambling Steve Gardner—a Charity Ball favorite—Sonnyboy is also presenting a private acoustic concert. The duo is offering either a performance at your office event or home party or a workshop/concert for your service organization, club, or school.
Gardner is also making available some of his amazing photographs from the Old South that are in his book Rambling Mind, which traces the blues across Mississippi in stunning black-and-white imagery.
Art lovers will be thrilled by a major offering organized by 2018 ACCJ Volunteer of the Year (Kansai) Royi Akavia, who is a long-term supporter of ACCJ featured charity Food Bank Kansai. For this year’s auction, Akavia and his companies—Double Bounce Productions, Inc. and KOA Production, Inc.—have arranged a donation which includes art by both himself and six other artists: DAAS, Eamon Harrington, Clifford Land, Roberto Mitrotti, Dorit Schwartz, and Shlomo Tuvia. A curated selection will be available for bid.
More enticing auction items are expected between publication of this issue of The ACCJ Journal and the start of the event. Join us!
While the No-Show format is a departure from the traditional year-end gala, it builds on the great success of last year’s virtual event and offers even more opportunities for ACCJ members and their guests to support the chamber’s mission of helping the community and those in need.
“We look forward to your support for our charities and those who continue to struggle through the prolonged pandemic,” said Hancock. “Please watch our website for updates. We look forward to your participation!”