First Assistance Dog Research Forum Held with Partners from Home and Abroad in the Presence of Her Imperial Highness Princess Takamado

The Japan Assistance Dog Association (Representative Director: Sonja Park) held the 'First Assistance Dog Research Forum' on Monday, May 18, 2026, at the Iino Conference Center in Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo.

The event was honored by the presence of Her Imperial Highness Princess Takamado and attended by experts and stakeholders in assistance dog training, medicine, welfare, education, and research from both Japan and overseas, concluding as a great success.

Based on the 'Social Model of Disability'

The forum was established based on the philosophy of the 'social model and human rights model of disability' within the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, adopted in 2006. The purpose was to reframe challenges faced by assistance dog users in social participation not as individual problems, but as issues of social environment and policy.

Practitioners, researchers, and policy stakeholders from around the world gathered to share insights and discuss future environmental development and policy frameworks in Japan.

Overview of the Assistance Dog Research Forum

Date: Monday, May 18, 2026, 10:30–16:30

Opening Ceremony: 10:30–11:30

Project ACCESS Discussion: 14:00–16:30

Venue: Iino Conference Center (Iino Building, 2-1-1 Uchisaiwaicho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo)

Organizer: Japan Assistance Dog Association

Support: Cabinet Office, Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kanagawa Prefecture

Sponsor: Japan Airlines (JAL)

Cooperation: United Nations University, University of Tokyo Center for Barrier-Free Education, Shochiku Co., Ltd.

Key Speakers:

- Tshilidzi Marwala, Rector of the United Nations University (via video message)

- Takeshi Iwaya, Member of the House of Representatives

- Yuji Kuroiwa, Governor of Kanagawa Prefecture

Experts in assistance dog training, medicine, and research from Australia, the UK, Belgium, Croatia, and the US attended in person, with participants from South Africa joining online.

Forum Management Team:

- Koichiro Matsuura, Special Advisor (Former Director-General of UNESCO, Former Ambassador to France)

- Kazuhiko Ezawa, Executive Board Member of the Japan Medical Association

- Kaoru Suzuki, Attorney

- Takashi Shinozuka, Secretary General of the Forum Preparatory Office (Former Ambassador to Morocco)

Opening Ceremony:

1. At the opening ceremony, Her Imperial Highness Princess Takamado gave an address. She touched on the role of assistance dogs in solving diverse social issues, expressing her hope that the forum would connect international knowledge and serve as a significant opportunity toward realizing a co-existing society where everyone can participate as a matter of course. Norika Fujiwara served as the master of ceremonies.

2. Guest Greetings: Encouraging words were shared by Takeshi Iwaya and Yuji Kuroiwa regarding the realization of a society where people live with assistance dogs. A video message was also received from Tshilidzi Marwala. Furthermore, the GREEN×EXPO Association reported on the installation of 'assistance dog restrooms' for users attending the 2027 International Horticultural Expo.

3. Stakeholder Participation: Demonstrations were held, including assistance dog walking support for children with autism, and users of three types of assistance dogs shared their experiences regarding the roles and potential of these dogs in daily life.

4. Fusion with Japanese Culture: With the cooperation of Shochiku Co., Ltd., kabuki costumes were exhibited at the venue. This provided an opportunity to weave the Japanese spirit of 'coexistence' and 'compassion' with the wish for a future where everyone can participate in society with assistance dogs, deepening international participants' understanding of an inclusive society.

Afternoon Session:

Regarding PROJECT ACCESS: The forum also announced the start of 'PROJECT ACCESS,' a three-year international research project initiated by the Japan Assistance Dog Association. Aiming to create an environment where the 'access rights' of assistance dog users function naturally in society, the project will work with the University of Tokyo...