Waseda University student Kazunari Takabe, 21, has devoted much of his time over the past three years to a rather unusual philanthropic activity: to make friends with teenagers fresh out of juvenile detention centers.
As a member of volunteer Big Brothers and Sisters Movement of Japan (BBS), Takabe, a Tokyo resident, said he aims to gain the trust of younger ex-offenders through a slew of activities, including barbecuing, karaoke, and studying together in hopes that the marginalized teens won't feel alone after their release, so they can smoothly reintegrate into society.
With 50 local chapters and about 4,700 members nationwide, BBS members cooperate with the Justice Ministry, whose probation officers request a BBS member to buddy up with parolees. Based on their analysis of each case, probation officers decide what approach BBS members should take in communicating with each juvenile offender.