Anyone, everyone once in awhile, has a day or two in their lives, when they feel sick and 
tired physically and/or mentally. When that happens, you may want to have a place where 
you can rest and refresh without any pressure. Or you may want someone who accepts you 
as you are and tell you that you are loved and cared. It also helps if there are programs to 
regain your self-confidence and find your own possibilities in life, so that you will have 
courage to live.

  Established in 1987, "Cooking House" has tried to realize these dreams for the people 
with mental illness. For the sake of living not lonely for them, we opened a gathering place 
where they can come to have fun of cooking and eating together while mixing with one 
another. The Japanese psychiatric healthcare at the time was focused solely on 
institutionalized care and was far behind what was required. For them to have community 
life just like everyone else, it was/is necessary such places that they can be supported to 
have a rest and to step up their ability for communication.

  "Cooking House" is a small space, but has made steady progress to help the people with 
mental illness open their mind and regain self-confidence. In a supportive environment, 
cooking together and enjoying meals and chat, they were getting gradually open minded and 
cheerful. By supporting them like these, there have been fewer cases of recurrences.

  In 1992, when Cooking House was five years old, "Brown Rice Restaurant" was opened to 
increase the opportunity for them to participate in the community life. As it has served 
safe, healthy and delicious food it helped us gain favorable reputation. People call it a "
Fantastic Restaurant" where they can have mental consultation as well as good food.

  In 1997, we opened the third place as a branch of Cooking House. Cooking House became 
to something very special and important for a number of mentally illness people and their 
families, where they can gather and mix with others with similar experiences. 

  There are still a large number of people with mental illness in this country who are 
isolated from the community and having an uncomfortable life. Cooking House has become a 
hope for them. It has been considered as a good example of founding such places for them.

  To commemorate the fifteenth anniversary of Cooking House, on December 14, 2002, we 
had a concert called "We Are Not Alone". Until that time our members wrote their own 
songs and recorded them on CD to express their happiness. It is important in itself for them 
to live a positive life, and it also helps improve the recognition for them in the society.

  Fifteen years ago, Cooking House begun in a small room, and ever since Cooking House 
has been transmitting the culture of welfare to the public. 

Now it is time for us to communicate in the world.

1987 Cooking House founded

1990 Received grants from Tokyo Metropolitan Government and Chofu Municipal Office

1992 Brown Rice Restaurant opened

1995 Cooking House the Second opened

1996 Received grants for the Second from Tokyo Metropolitan Government and Chofu

  Municipal Office.

1997 The tenth anniversary

  Published books " Fantastic Restaurant" 

1998 Cooking House the Third opened

  Received grants for the Third from Tokyo Metropolitan Government and Chofu 

  Municipal Office

  Received Kiwanis Award

2000 Exhibition "Painting Make Life Happier" held

2002 The fifteenth anniversary

  Published books "Sequel Fantastic Restaurant" 

  Published books with music CD "We are not alone"