Advancing Pediatric Healthcare in Japan: Touch Therapy Training Reaches Sapporo Hospitals

We are honored to share the success of our recent Liddle Kidz® Foundation programs in Sapporo, Hokkaido, where we had the privilege of bringing our globally recognized Touch Therapy Certification Courses to Japan. Focused on supporting infants with special healthcare needs and children who have experienced trauma, these trainings are part of our mission to ensure every child receives compassionate, developmentally appropriate, and evidence-informed care.

A Milestone for Touch Therapy in Japan

During our time in Sapporo, we led two transformative certification programs:

CIMT® II – Certified Infant Massage Teacher for Special Healthcare Needs
> This advanced course prepares professionals to support medically complex infants, including those born prematurely or with neurological, genetic, or cardiac conditions. Participants learned how to safely integrate infant massage into NICUs and pediatric healthcare environments, empower caregivers, and provide trauma-informed, individualized care to promote connection, comfort, and healing.

> Read about the CIMT® II course <

Touch Therapy for Pediatric Trauma
> This course helps clinicians and caregivers provide touch therapy to children affected by trauma, be it medical, emotional, or environmental. It offers hands-on tools for calming the nervous system, restoring a sense of safety in the body, and building trust. It also focuses on family inclusion, ethics, and practitioner well-being to ensure sustainable, empathetic care.

> Read about the Touch Therapy for Trauma course <

A Community of Dedicated Professionals

One of the most inspiring aspects of our time in Sapporo was the incredible diversity and commitment of our participants. Professionals traveled from all across Japan to join us in Hokkaido. Among them were:

Medical Doctors (MDs)
Nurses
Physical Therapists
Occupational Therapists
Massage Therapists
And other compassionate healthcare professionals dedicated to advancing pediatric care.

Their collaboration, curiosity, and shared purpose created a powerful, heartfelt atmosphere throughout the training courses.

We were especially honored to be joined by staff from two of Hokkaido’s most respected medical institutions:

Sapporo Medical University Hospital | 札幌医科大学附属病院

Hokkaido Medical Center for Child Health and Rehabilitation | 北海道立子ども総合医療・療育センター

Their participation signals a bold and promising step toward embedding integrative touch therapy into mainstream pediatric healthcare across Japan.

“Being in Japan and sharing this work with such passionate professionals was truly moving,” said Tina Allen, Founder of the Liddle Kidz® Foundation. “To see MDs, nurses, therapists, and caregivers not only embrace these practices but also recognize the deep impact they can make for children and families was incredibly powerful. This is how we change the future of pediatric healthcare.”

The Impact Has Just Begun

These newly certified professionals are now back in their hospitals, clinics, and communities—equipped with new tools, confidence, and clarity. Whether supporting premature infants, medically fragile children, or those facing trauma, they are making a tangible difference in the lives of the families they serve.

We are proud to have walked alongside them in this journey, and excited for the powerful ripple effect their work will create across Hokkaido and beyond.

This is more than a training. This is a movement.

Liddle Kidz® | Together we can transform pediatric healthcare!