For those that dont read Japanese the note says… 

"I receive public assistance. My rent sucks up most of my welfare allowance and the only way I could ever eat a pastry is to take something out of my regular food budget. The other day I received some free pastries (at the Kozmoz Kansai Food Bank Pantry ) and enjoyed some for the first time in ages. 

I really appreciate it, and am very grateful.

I am sorry this (donation) is so little but please receive it.

Thank you so much…"

It moved me deeply and I thought… As I look around us, I see people driving Lexus, 50 story condominium buildings going up, and young ladies sporting thousand dollar Louis Vitton bags… Should it be so difficult for a grandma to enjoy something so simple as an apple turnover?

We don't thinks so here at Kozmoz. And as for myself, the sacrifices that I and my family have made to make the Kansai Food Bank a reality are just that much more insignificant after reading that heartfelt letter.

So in turn from us at Kozmoz, Thank you.

With your help, someone will have just a little more joy in their lives today and without your help, someone will go with out today…

Kamagaseki is the home to both the largest population of day laborers, and conversely the largest population of homeless and highest concentration of homeless in Japan.

For years, unschooled young men could gather here to secure a good paycheck, often cash paid on the spot, for a days work. Each morning, company trucks and busses came to recruit laborers for construction, transportation and factories and each evening, the trucks brought back happy men with more money in their pockets that than their skill set would nominally provide. Like the Sirens of Homer's oddesy that lured sailors to their deaths, the quick money lured many a young man to a shipwrecked life due to lack of insurance and benifits. For the money ceases when a busted knee or twisted back keeps a man off the bus headed to the job site….

Probably one of the cruelest twists were for the many that thought they were going for a days work on regular construction sites only to find themselves working in nuclear plants in the many plants in Fukui, or recently being tricked into working in the crippled Fukushima Dai Ichi plants. However, making a days wage for only working for 2 hours makes it easy to to swallow. An interesting documentary called 'Nuclear Ginza' that was written by a Japanese photographer Kenji Higuchi can be found at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CNq0qyQJ5xs

In stark contrast to growing economies of the 60's n 70's and the bubble of the early 80's, the average age today in Kamageseki is over 50 years old. And replacing the spirited young laborers of not that many years ago, are mostly broken down old men with bad backs and knees with nothing to look forward but waning years of poverty and lonliness. 

Wasn't this pool of day laborers responsible for fueling the great economic expansion in Japan? Isn't the modern infrustructure that exists today the result of thier hard labor? In the current economic downturn, are we to forget those that did so much?

Doesn't even the least among us deserve a nutritious meal? Kozmoz thinks so. We will be there next week as well remembering those that worked so hard for all of us. Just because it is the right thing to do. We hope that you will continue to support Kozmoz' activities so that we can continue to be a support for our communities.

That was the question from our new driver at the food bank in Kansai this week. He was amazed to find that there are so many orphanages, that it takes 4 days a week for our foodbank delivery van to stop by just the ones in Kyoto, Takatsuki, and Ibaraki.

We have been working with the local orphanages here for about 15 years now providing free nutritious food stuffs as well as doing everything from cleaning to taking the kids to USJ for the day…

Perhaps of all the unfortunate that we work to support, the saddest to think about are the little ones with no parents or those whose parents are unable to provide for them and raise them at home. However in the same token, these kids, the most vunerable in our society, have taught me much about life in the last 15 years. Unlike so many of us adults, they never seem to dwell on their lacks, and always amaze me with thier abilty to enjoy the simplest of things.

All the drivers love to deliver to the orphanages. The truck is never greeted by downtrodden looking kids, but always by bright n cheery eyes wondering what wonders will spill from the back of the truck as the doors are opened. Today, those cheery eyes were rewarded with among other things, sweet ripe strawberries donated by a local warehouse as many of the berries had become over ripe. Our staff went thru the hundreds of boxes to cull the overripe berries so that the kids would have a special treat for dinner.

It is something that we have heard many times and is one of the reasons that the Kozmoz Kansai Food Bank has trouble getting enough volunteer staff. It seems that everyone is a hero when they go to the orphanage or retirement home but there is a real stigma in helping those that have fallen through the cracks and end up homeless.

Kozmoz volunteers spent the evening yesterday with The Batman passing out a mountain of handmade Kozmoz Super Bentos as we have many many times. The evening was bitter cold and the homeless were doing their best to escape the weather under tarps, cardboard or blankets…. With the weather being so cold, it is impractical to have a traditional soup kitchen as we do in warmer months so the staff scour the parks, under bridges, and unused covered parking areas for homeless to present warm bentos, fresh fruit and curry filled breads. Working till the last train home the staff delivered every last meal and spread as much Xmas cheer as possible.

We hope the coming year brings a better life for these unfortunate individuals but we know that nothing will change until we as community members take the bull by the horn and bring change instead of standing by and wishing for change. Merry Christmas from all at Kozmoz.

On Dec. 28 Wed. We will be making christmas dinners for the Homeless in Osaka. As the economy continues to worsen the number of the needy has increased significantly. It is our duty as members of society to support these people. What better way to let these people know that we care and have not forgotten about them than to give them a Christmas present.

We will start preparing the lunches on Dec. 28th Wed at 17:00 at the Fushimi Kozmoz Center,

We will prepare 50 lunches and take them at 19:00 to Osaka Tennouji.

We will meet up at 21:00 at the West Exit of JR Tennouji Station and start to hand out the lunches from there.

If you have any questions or would like to participate please feel free to send us an email

Merry Christmas!!

receive the people in need at the pantry and provide them with nutritious sustenance. 

Needy people in the community are welcome to come and receive food products such as vegetables, staples, fruit, and bread free of charge at our pantry in Momoya or from our mobile pantries. The Kozmoz food bank delivers nutritional foodstuffs to orphanages, retirement homes, and support centers 7 days a week. And of course in times of disaster such as the devistating tsunami of March 11th this year, Kozmoz trucks are on the road bringing aid as soon as humanly possible.

Please contact us if you are interested in helping make someones day brighter here in Kyoto, Osaka, or Kobe!

She is also skilled in:

• piano
• tennis
• spanish
• making chili dogs (super secret menu item coming soon)

Well, none of which has any real relation to website, but I wanted to give her a good plug. AND, of course maybe we can talk her into managing the hot dog cart on occasion after it makes its debut!

If you have any questions or comments about the webstie, just send an email!

Though we rarely highlight financial donors here at Kozmoz, I was struck by the amazing diversity of their membership and could not help but think that if more "ordinary" people were to invest in their communities as these folk have, there would be perhaps a few more "haves" and a few less "have nots". And that is a great thing to remember as the Christmas season is upon us. I think I'll have a hot cup of green tea now ; )

In the same way, we remember those who have been for whatever reason fail to be included in the prosperity of our communities. Kozmoz was giving a helping hand to homeless in Osaka that evening by providing hot meals and encouragement to the men and women living on the streets.

The true seat of power is and always has been the common man. It is the common man that allows the world to be shaped around him thru the resourse of his labor and consumption. Without those fundemental economic building blocks, the elite would be devoid of any power. The sad thing is that simple apathy and ignorance seems to be the strongest forces shaping the communities and nations of our world.  2012 would be a good year to begin to reassert the ultimate seat of power.

KOZMOZ INTERNATIONAL PARTY ~NOV.~
Hi guys! thanks to all who showed up at the Halloween Party! I hope everyone had a blast! I did!! sorry for the late notice, been really busy lately but just wanted to remind & invite to our monthly party this Sat.(11/5)
The party starts at 7:30pm @KOZMOZ its all you can eat for 1000円!! We also have delicious beer and cocktails starting from 300円!!
Hope to see everyone here this week!! have a great holiday!!