EITAKO is an NPO (non profit organisation) in Japan. 

Legislation on Promotion of Specified Nonprofit Activities was enacted in December 1998 with the aim of promoting the healthy development of specified nonprofit activities as free social contribution activities by citizens, including volunteer activities, by granting legal personality to organizations that carry out specified nonprofit activities.

Having legal personality allows an organization to conduct transactions under the name of the corporation, which has the advantage of increasing the organization's credibility. The number of "specified nonprofit organizations (NPOs)" is increasing and they are becoming established in society. In June 2011, against the backdrop of the growing presence of NPOs, a major legal amendment was made (enforced on April 1, 2012) that focused on measures to strengthen the financial base of corporations. It is expected that NPOs will become familiar to citizens and respond to the diversifying needs of society.

The name of EITAKO is a shortend word made from the combination of 2 organisations, EI-PLAY, a volunteer group that is affiliated to the Social Welfare Council of Sōja City in Okayama, Japan and Te Ara Koiora, a charitable trust in New Zealand.

EITAKO aims to encourage both peoples in Okayama and New Zealand guiding them to know about both cultural values at the same time through our exchange projects, and our goals are to drive the Chi'iki-Sōsei in their own ways learning about the local cultural features, industries and history from the international educational cultural exchange events that EITAKO organises, then the local young children can be proud of themselves being in their hometown, which can make our goals come true for Chi'iki-Sōsei.

EITAKO runs 2 regular projects. One is the EITAKO School Cultural Exchange, and the other project is Traditional Cultural Exchanges. Both projects are done between Okayama Prefecture, Japan and New Zealand. EITAKO aims to connect the local network operating the two projects as below.

The process of EITAKO's projects are,

  1. EITAKO can suggest an exchange project to be able to deal with the needs in the community.
  2. EITAKO can guide how to communicate with other people to the community.
  3. The local people understand and respect both cultures.
  4. ETIAKO projects directly elicit local young children's willingness, proactivity and motivation to contribute to their hometown remaining.
  5. EITAKO drives local revitalization.