The KIOKU Social-Cognitive Training Method:
A Gym for Mental Fitness & Belonging
Playing Kioku at social clubs
Playing KIOKU with the family
KIOKU Club in action
Playing Kioku at social clubs
As life expectancy continues to rise, so does the vital need for meaningful and healthy aging. Too often, older adults find themselves in passive roles - precisely when they need vibrant social ties, stimulating dialogue, and a profound sense of belonging most. Rather than waiting for the challenges of age to become obstacles, we believe now is the time to invest in connection and creativity.
Partner with us
We certify KIOKU facilitators to lead social-cognitive resilience groups.
Our model is flexible, tailored to the specific needs of organizations and communities:
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Building Community Human Capital: Training volunteers and older adults as certified KIOKU facilitators (KCC). This model creates a vibrant social fabric, driven by the community, for the community.
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Professional Team Certification: Equipping activity managers, social workers, and healthcare professionals with the tools to implement the KIOKU methodology within their organizations.
What is the KIOKU method?
Prof. Yuval Noah Harari describes the human ability to tell stories as a 'superpower' - the mythical glue that enables us to cooperate and build resilient communities.
At KIOKU, we turn this superpower into an experience of joy and discovery. It’s simply fun. As they play, both participants and facilitators naturally adopt and internalize three core pillars:
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True Listening: Practicing curiosity and undivided attention, ensuring every voice is heard and valued.
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Cognitive Engagement: Developing mental flexibility, imagination, and memory through collaborative storytelling.
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Psychological Safety: Creating a playful space where every idea is welcomed as a vital contribution to the shared creation.
Customized certifications for organizations and professionals, including practical training and dedicated mentorship
Local Authorities & Welfare Organizations
A model for activating social-human networks by training volunteers and seniors as certified facilitators to lead community resilience groups.
Senior Living & Healthcare Organizations
Empowering professional teams—including gerontologists, speech therapists, and occupational therapists—to integrate the KIOKU methodology into their therapeutic toolkit.
Educational Institutions
Educational psychologists and counselors integrate veteran KIOKU facilitators from the local community into schools to foster emotional resilience and intergenerational bonds.
Advanced Professional Tools Professional KIOKU certification for psychologists, coaches, and group facilitators looking to enhance social-cognitive health.
Therapists & Private Professionals
Family members and professional caregivers use the methodology as a unique emotional-cognitive tool, creating moments of meaning within the home.
Caregivers & Families
Our Partners
Well-being: research on KIOKU won first prize in Japan
A controlled study conducted by Professors Ehud Bodner and Yoram Barak, showed that participants aged 61 to 94 experienced a significant decrease in the feeling of loneliness and a significant increase in the level of mental well-being, after 12 guided KIOKU sessions.
The study won first place at the International Congress of Gerontology in Yokohama, Japan (IAGG 2023), and was published in the journal GAMES FOR HEALTH in 2024.
Multi-generational KIOKU
A group of children gathers around a KIOKU facilitator, and together they dive into a world of stories that transcend time and age, weaving an experience of laughter, wisdom, and adventure. This moment illustrates the essence of KIOKU: the power of storytelling and collaborative play. KIOKU creates a community where every participant, regardless of their life journey, can find joy, learning, and a sense of belonging.