On March 20, 2026, we held a memorial event titled “A Gathering to Remember Our Departed Peers” at Asahi Seimei Hall, with approximately 380 participants in attendance.
Our organization designates the Vernal Equinox Day each year as a day to remember those who have passed away due to gambling addiction.

On the day of the event, We observed a one-minute silence for our fellow member who passed away. Following this, Mitsuyo Kanbara, representative of a bereaved families’ support group, took the stage and spoke about her personal experiences, sharing the reality that gambling addiction can, in some cases, lead to death.

The event also featured a hula dance performance by our organization’s hula dance group, as well as a choral performance by the the NPO National Association of Family of Gambling Addiction Choir. The venue was filled with a gentle stillness and a warm, comforting atmosphere.

Furthermore, we simultaneously released the song “Mekurumeku” at the venue and on YouTube. This piece was created with the hope of encouraging individuals affected by gambling addiction, their families, and those who have lost loved ones, to continue moving forward despite their hardships.

The theme of the song is “from darkness to light,” portraying the journey of facing forward and continuing to live.
In the music video, individuals affected by addiction and their families appeared with their faces shown. This was done in the hope of easing misunderstandings and stigma surrounding addiction, and to help people understand that it is a condition that can affect anyone.

In addition, with the aim of fostering a society that supports recovery rather than engaging in criticism, several public figures who resonated with this project appeared in the video as supporters.

We will continue our awareness efforts to prevent any further loss of life due to gambling addiction.

“Mekurumeku” (Official Music Video)
https://youtu.be/HyC2OgyMzvI