Global Festa Japan 2026 was held on October 17 and 18. At one of Japan’s largest international cooperation events, the NGO network Japan editorial team spoke with Mr. Shoji Araishi, Secretary General of Bridge Asia Japan (BAJ), a certified nonprofit.
BAJ is an NGO that carries out grassroots international cooperation mainly in Vietnam and Myanmar. Even as it faces the harsh reality that its local office in Myanmar, where a serious civil war continues, was destroyed, it keeps standing by local people. This article shares where it stands now.
International cooperation linking Vietnam and Myanmar
BAJ runs a wide range of support activities in Asian countries.
In Hue, in central Vietnam, it runs environmental education for children and support for small-scale farmers. In Myanmar it works in several regions. In the Central Dry Zone it has continued water supply work for many years and is now focused mainly on repairing broken wells. On the outskirts of Yangon, the largest city, it runs the “Book & Toy Mini Library” project, delivering books and toys to children in orphanages and care facilities.
An intensifying civil war: hardship and hope in Myanmar
BAJ’s biggest challenge today is the serious humanitarian crisis caused by the prolonged civil war in Myanmar. International support remains hard to gather, he says.
BAJ had also worked in northern Rakhine State, near the Bangladesh border, but the state was sealed off by the war and its local office was caught up in the fighting and destroyed.
Even in such desperate circumstances, the light of hope has not gone out. After losing the office, the team moved elsewhere and, centered on three local women staff, resumed sewing training for women in a modest way. Mr. Araishi said that participants’ delight in this training was among the happiest recent developments in BAJ’s work.
What we can do in Japan: start by “knowing”
What can those of us far away in Japan do about such harsh conditions? Mr. Araishi stressed the importance of a familiar step rather than anything special.
“For an NGO, the greatest joy is first of all to have people learn about our work.”
He invites readers to browse the websites and social media of various NGOs as they please and to take part casually in online events held by organizations that catch their interest. Following an organization on social media or joining an event is itself a real way of supporting it.
Outlook and the future BAJ aims for
BAJ is not slowing down and has its eyes on its next projects.
In Myanmar it will continue water supply work, such as repairing wells that bear directly on people’s lives, and plans a crowdfunding campaign to raise funds for sewing training that helps local women become independent. In Vietnam it plans to create classes that bring Japanese and Vietnamese students together to learn about natural-environment issues such as climate change.
Bridge Asia Japan listens to local voices and keeps walking alongside them, even in difficult conditions. Our own international cooperation begins by turning our eyes to their work.
About the organization: Bridge Asia Japan (BAJ)
You can read an overview of BAJ in our NGO profile.
Read the NGO profile of BAJ → / Official website: https://www.baj-npo.org/
Interview information
Interview: NGO network Japan editorial team / Event: Global Festa Japan 2026 (booth no. 43) / Date: October 17, 2026