On April 22, 2026, we conducted an awareness and prevention education seminar on gambling addiction at Kokura Garrison of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF), with approximately 350 personnel in attendance.
This training initiative began through the cooperation between the regimental commander, the company commander at the time, and our association. As a result of this collaboration, one service member who was struggling with gambling addiction was able to enter a recovery facility. This is the second time the training has been held, following the session conducted by our representative, Noriko Tanaka, in December 2023.

Following the family member’s testimony, the lecture explained that gambling addiction is not a matter of weak willpower but a medical condition, and emphasized the importance of support from those close to the individual, including family members and colleagues in the workplace.
We also watched a video featuring actor Noboru Takachi, who is a certified ASK Prevention Education Advisor, in which he discusses appropriate responses in the workplace. It was impressive to see how attentively the service members engaged with the video.
We believe that this training provided a valuable opportunity to deepen understanding of gambling addiction and to reflect on how workplaces can offer appropriate support.
We will continue to work in collaboration with relevant organizations to promote prevention and early intervention through ongoing training efforts.