Childhood hunger awareness on Guu Guu day

Today is Guu Guu Day in Japan. Guu guu is the onomatopoeia for the sound of hunger, what we might call a rumbling stomach in English. September 9th was chosen as the 9th day of the 9th month which can be read as guu guu in Japanese. The aim of the day is to create awareness that there are hungry children in Japan and around the world.

The anniversary was only established in 2019 which may explain why its still not that well known. And of course the pandemic hit the year after, when I am sure the number of hungry children increased with the closures of schools. Children in need get provided school lunch for free in most prefectures. And with the schools closed, an unknown number of children went without lunch daily.

It is deeply upsetting that there are children in Japan and around the world who go hungry daily. Nobody deserves to go hungry. I would like to see this day get more recognition so that in turn more people will be aware of childhood hunger. Because until this year, I had never heard of this anniversary before. But what a great cause, one I would like to get behind.

Had you heard of Guu Guu day? Do you know of any special events to create awareness and / or to provide for hungry children?