Memorial Event on July 22: 10 Years After the Sagamihara Disability Massacre – Honoring Victims and Building a Society That Rejects Eugenics

DPI Japan (headquartered in Chiyoda City, Tokyo), together with the National Independent Living Centers Council of Japan (JIL), People First Japan, and the DPI Women with Disabilities Network, will host an event titled '10 Years After the Sagamihara Disability Massacre: Honoring the Victims of Tsukui Yamayuri-en and Striving for an Inclusive Society—Rejecting Eugenics! Advancing Deinstitutionalization and Inclusive Education!' on Wednesday, July 22, 2026.

On July 26, 2016, the 'Sagamihara Disability Massacre' occurred at Tsukui Yamayuri-en, a residential facility for people with disabilities in Sagamihara City, Kanagawa Prefecture, where 19 disabled individuals were killed and 27 others injured.

The perpetrator, Satoshi Uematsu, claimed that 'people with disabilities are sources of unhappiness and should disappear.' This was a crime rooted in eugenic ideology, and the deeper issue lies in the societal conditions that allowed such an event to occur.

The incident prompted critical examination of Japan's historical and policy foundations—such as segregated education, institutionalization-centered support systems, and the legacy of the former Eugenic Protection Law—that have perpetuated eugenic thinking. A major policy shift was urgently needed. Yet, ten years later, has Japanese society truly changed?

In July 2026, marking ten years since the tragedy, we will hold a gathering and appeal march to honor the victims and advocate for an inclusive society where people are not segregated based on disability. We call for rejecting eugenic ideology and advancing deinstitutionalization and inclusive education.

Date and Time: Wednesday, July 22, 2026, 12:00–17:00

12:00–14:30 Gathering (House of Councillors Building) 15:30–17:00 Appeal March (from Hibiya Park to Konayabashi Children's Park)

Venue: Auditorium, House of Councillors Building

2-1-1 Nagatacho, Chiyoda City, Tokyo 100-0014

※ Information support provided (sign language interpretation, real-time captioning)

Program (tentative)

11:20 Registration opens / Flower offering 12:00 Opening / Moment of silence / Greetings 12:20 Video screening 12:40 Session 1: Independent Living for People with Intellectual Disabilities 13:25 Break 13:40 Session 2: My Voice Relay 14:30 Closing / Participants move to Hibiya Park carrying flowers for offering 15:20 Gathering at Hibiya Park (near Kasumimon Gate) 15:30 Appeal March begins 17:00 Informal dispersal near Kajibashi Parking Lot

Registration

Please register via the following form:

▽ Registration Form

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSffYG_nDSw62OjiWzJMSqGQoPS2pVQS3Qql01UNcMZi-ZNBtw/viewform

Thank you for your support—over 200 people have already registered. The venue capacity is 300, so registration will close after approximately 30 more participants.

Note: The appeal march starting at Hibiya Park at 15:30 is open to more than 300 participants. Everyone is welcome to join.

【Important】For Participants in the Appeal March

Please bring signs, placards, name tags, or neck boards with messages.

Messages should align with the event’s themes: 'Reject Eugenics,' 'Deinstitutionalization,' and 'Promote Inclusive Education.'

The event will proceed rain or shine, so please prepare for rain. Extreme heat is also expected, so please take precautions against heatstroke.

Organizers

DPI Japan

National Independent Living Centers Council of Japan (JIL)

People First Japan

DPI Women with Disabilities Network