On Saturday, September 6, 2025, the “8th General Meeting Commemorative Seminar of the National Gambling Addiction Family Support Group” was held at the Electric Power Hall in Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture. Over 700 participants gathered from across the nation, filling the venue with enthusiasm and energy.

The morning session featured a general meeting and discussion forum, where reports from various regions introduced initiatives supporting individuals with gambling addiction and their families. Following this, our association’s representative, Noriko Tanaka, took the stage. She conveyed the message, “Whether you’re approaching retirement or a single mother, there’s no need to worry. We have a supportive network to rely on together,” which resonated deeply with attendees.

During the afternoon session, members of the Support Division for Those Affected and a couple from the Miyagi Family Association shared their personal experiences. Their accounts of the struggles leading to recovery from addiction, the suffering endured as family members, and the journey back to finding joy once more deeply moved many attendees. Furthermore, in a lecture by Dr. Tatsu Ishikawa of Tohoku Kai Hospital, it was explained that “gambling addiction is a brain disease rooted in loneliness and isolation,” emphasizing the vital importance of maintaining human connections.

Finally, the chorus club performed a choral piece, and all participants sang “TOMORROW” together. The event concluded successfully in a warm atmosphere.

This seminar served as a valuable opportunity to promote a proper understanding of gambling addiction and share the importance of support throughout society. Our association will continue to advance recovery support and prevention awareness in collaboration with family support groups.

The next “National Gambling Addiction Family Association 9th General Meeting Commemorative Seminar” is scheduled to be held in Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture, next September. We hope it will be an opportunity for more people to deepen their learning and understanding.