Life-Changing Relationships for
Children Facing Serious Illness

Becoming
TEAMMATES

Being ALIVE Japan empowers children who need long-term medical treatment through sport programming and life-changing relationships with college and professional athletes.

Mission

Approximately 250,000 children in Japan face long-term medical treatment, enduring months to years of intensive care in confined hospital stays. The isolation prevents them from exploring the same childhood experiences as their peers and delays essential interpersonal development. We will not let treatment take away their childhood. Being ALIVE Japan gives children undergoing long-term treatment the chance to live their best possible youth. Through the power of sport, we create relationships that focus on possibilities, not barriers.

Vision

Being ALIVE Japan creates supportive and meaningful relationships between children in long-term care and college and professional athletes. These “TEAMMATES” transform treatment from time typically spent alone into time with friends. This camaraderie enables the children to gain more autonomy over their care, develop stronger social and emotional relationships, and participate in key childhood experiences through sports.

TEAMMATES Stories

Real stories of life-changing relationships that inspire hope and strength.

Using Sport to Increase Possibilities in Children’s Hospitals

Waseda University Women’s Field Hockey draft their new TEAMMATE, Ruru-chan

Growing Leaders, Expanding Impact

Leadership, TeamIMPACT, Crossculture, BeingALIVEJapan

Hana's Story

Our founder and CEO, Hanako Kitano, experienced 15 years of medical treatment since she was 5 years old. When she looks back on those 15 long years, the first thing that comes to mind is not what she had to give up or the pain she endured, but rather the fun times she spent with family and friends.
The supportive relationships with friends, family, and medical staff formed a "TEAM" that gave her strength to persevere—an opportunity she now seeks to make possible for all children fighting serious illness.

Our Impact

Building stronger team and communities through sport and relationships.

TEAMMATES matches

39
Children and Siblings supported

1,632
Hospital Partners

5
Japanese prefectures reached

7

Our Programs

Four programs designed to support children, families, and communities throughout the power of sport.

TEAMMATES
Program

We match children facing serious illness with sport teams for 1-2 years, forming relationships that empower and inspire everyone involved.
Hospital Sport
Outreach

We run sport programming in hospitals led by local athletes to improve the quality of life for children facing long-term medical treatment.
Community
Outreach

We organize unique community sport events for children facing serious illness and end of life care, such as sports camp and ceremonial games.
Leadership
Program

Our student-athletes expand our mission across Japan, cultivating leadership through internal and international workshops.