Saitama's Minori NPO to Host 10th Anniversary Concert with Toshihiko Nishizawa and Satoko Yamanos

The concert by Toshihiko Nishizawa and Satoko Yamanos will feature beloved songs cherished across generations.

Minori, a certified NPO (Ageo, Saitama Prefecture; CEO Makoto Kurita), will hold a commemorative ceremony and concert on Saturday, September 26, 2026, at the Ageo Fujijukken Hall Main Auditorium (Ageo City Cultural Center).

The event is designed to be enjoyable for all ages, from children to seniors.

A highlight of the event will be the world premiere of the theme song for 'Ryoke Green Gables,' a disability welfare service facility operated by Minori, composed and written by Toshihiko Nishizawa, a leading figure in children's music. The concert will feature Satoko Yamanos's crystal-clear voice performing a series of universally recognizable classic songs.

Additionally, a sales fair operated by local welfare facilities and experiential welfare activities such as braille workshops will be held in the venue's lobby, aiming to create a community-based music festival where attendees can learn about welfare while having fun.

To support the event, Minori will solicit sponsorship from local businesses and individuals and plans to launch a crowdfunding campaign on June 26 to encourage broader participation and support from across Japan.

Ryoke Green Gables, operated by Minori, engages in agricultural activities where each participant takes on specific roles, from soil preparation to cultivation and harvest. Despite visual and multiple disabilities, participants work together, utilizing local farmland for productive activities.

Do you know about 'multiple disabilities including blindness'?

Multiple disabilities including blindness refer to individuals who have visual impairments combined with intellectual disabilities, physical disabilities, or other conditions.

We rely heavily on visual information in daily life. However, individuals with multiple disabilities including blindness face significant challenges in acquiring information, as well as in communication and mobility. As a result, their interactions with the community are often limited, making them 'invisible' members of society.

Minori began as a support group for parents of children with multiple disabilities including blindness, incorporated as a legal entity in 2016, and opened the disability welfare service facility 'Ryoke Green Gables' in 2020. In 2023, it became a certified NPO and continues its mission of fostering strong community ties.

Yet, natural opportunities for interaction between people with disabilities and local residents remain insufficient. On this 10th anniversary milestone, Minori launches the message:

'We want you to see us, the invisible ones.'

Using music as a bridge, the organization aims to create spaces for meaningful connection.

On this 10th anniversary, Minori seeks to strengthen partnerships with local residents and businesses, building relationships where everyone can see each other's faces. The vision is a society where people with disabilities are not merely recipients of support but active citizens contributing to their communities. Minori aims to model a future where individuals with visual or multiple disabilities can naturally go out into the town, work, enjoy life, and shine—starting from Ageo and inspiring communities nationwide.

Date and Time

Saturday, September 26, 2026, 13:00 start (12:00 doors open)

Venue

Ageo Fujijukken Hall Main Auditorium (Ageo City Cultural Center)

Performers

Toshihiko Nishizawa, Satoko Yamanos, and everyone from Minori

Admission

General: 1,000 yen / Students (middle school and below), individuals with disabilities, and caregivers: 500 yen (all seats free seating)

How to Purchase

Pia Ticket (P-code: 326139, currently on sale), or by phone through the Minori Concert Office

Under the Patronage of

Ageo City, Ageo City Board of Education, Ageo City Social Welfare Council, Saitama Design Association (Public Interest Incorporated Association), Ai Radio

For more information, please visit the organization's official website.