The Nippon Foundation Paralympic Support Center Signs Tripartite Partnership Agreement with Nippon Sport Science University and Japan Women's College of Physical Education

The Nippon Foundation Paralympic Support Center (Location: Minato-ku, Tokyo; Chairman: Yasushi Yamawaki; hereinafter referred to as "Para-Sport") has signed a tripartite partnership agreement with Nippon Sport Science University (NSSU) and Japan Women's College of Physical Education (JWCP) on June 30, 2026. This agreement aims to collaboratively create and promote a new "Inclusive Dance Event" (hereinafter referred to as "Dance Event") within Para-Sport's nationwide "Para-Sport! Inclusive Sports Day" (hereinafter referred to as "Sports Day"), an event that incorporates elements of parasports allowing children with and without disabilities to participate together.

The Dance Event will be created by incorporating the opinions of children, including those with disabilities, and an original song will also be produced. It is scheduled to be implemented as one of the events for the Spring Sports Day in 2027.

This partnership brings together NSSU, the only private university in Japan that operates a special needs school as an affiliated school and focuses on nurturing and supporting para-athletes, and JWCP, the only university in Japan where one can obtain a bachelor's degree in "Dance Studies." By pooling the expertise of both universities and the knowledge of Para-Sport, we will create a dance that allows everyone to shine, leaves no one behind, and enables children to express their individuality regardless of disability, making both practice and performance lively.

The new elementary school curriculum guidelines, which will be gradually implemented from April 2027, emphasize career education centered on special activities and the development of skills to collaborate with diverse individuals. The Dance Event, where "everyone can be the protagonist," meets these needs in educational settings.

"Para-Sport! Inclusive Sports Day" Official Website

https://www.parasapo.tokyo/inclusive_undokai/

"Para-Sport! Inclusive Sports Day" launched the "Wheelchair Relay Event" in May 2024. It is being implemented in schools nationwide as a sports day event that anyone can participate in, regardless of disability.

Pooling Expertise to Create a Dance That Leaves No One Behind | Messages on This Partnership (Comments from Each Party)

Yasushi Yamawaki, Chairman, The Nippon Foundation Paralympic Support Center

Sports Day is an important school event where children can work together with their peers, realize their own growth, and understand their roles. Through "Para-Sport! Inclusive Sports Day," Para-Sport has been working to create opportunities for participation for everyone, regardless of disability.

Through this collaboration with NSSU and JWCP, we aim to create an inclusive dance that everyone can enjoy, and to spread learning that respects diversity to school settings nationwide.

Hiroshi Imamura, Standing Director, School Corporation Nippon Sport Science University

Sports have the power to create new value by recognizing differences between people and respecting each other. We find it highly significant to be able to create an inclusive dance where "everyone is the protagonist" through this collaboration with The Nippon Foundation Paralympic Support Center and JWCP. We will contribute to the realization of a society of coexistence where no one is left behind, by leveraging the knowledge in sports science, parasports, and special needs education that our university has cultivated. We sincerely hope that this initiative will spread to schools nationwide and lead to the smiles and growth of each and every child.

Sakiko Ishizaki, Chairperson, School Corporation Nikaido Gakuen (Japan Women's College of Physical Education)

We are deeply honored to have been asked to produce the dance for "Para-Sport! Inclusive Sports Day" in collaboration with The Nippon Foundation Paralympic Support Center and NSSU. Humans move their bodies with all their might as a form of emotional expression, communicating beyond words. This is precisely what dance is. While there are many genres of dance professionally, we will create a gentle dance that transcends these genres, allowing children with and without disabilities to move joyfully with their friends. We expect this dance to make Sports Day even more enjoyable for children across the country.

About The Nippon Foundation Paralympic Support Center (Para-Sport)

Para-Sport aims to change society through sports, with the slogan "SOCIAL CHANGE with SPORTS," towards the realization of a DEI society where everyone can be active, recognizing each individual's differences.

Official Website | https://www.parasapo.or.jp/

Shared office (Minato-ku, Akasaka, Tokyo) utilized by summer and winter Paralympic sports federations.

The Nippon Foundation Paralympic Support Center* (Para-Sport), which began its activities in May 2015 with support from The Nippon Foundation, opened a shared office with sports federations and related organizations in November 2015 to build a sustainable operational structure for Paralympic sports federations facing challenges in their management base. We are also working to strengthen their foundations by providing grants for essential expenses such as secretariat personnel costs, public relations and awareness activities to increase the number of participants, and public relations/marketing costs, as well as by offering "Shared Services" that consolidate common tasks such as accounting and translation for efficient organizational management.

*Name changed from The Nippon Foundation Paralympic Support Center in January 2022.

Nippon Foundation Para Arena

In June 2018, the "Nippon Foundation Para Arena" was opened to improve training environments for para-athletes and implement public awareness events. To date, over 83,000 para-athletes have utilized the facility.

DEI Education and Training Program "Asu-Challe!" by Para-athletes and Instructors

The "Asu-Challe!" program, which provides educational programs for elementary, junior high, high school, and special needs schools, and training programs for companies, organizations, local governments, and universities, led by para-athletes and instructors, has been held 6,470 times domestically and internationally from fiscal year 2016 to the end of fiscal year 2025, with 660,000 participants from children to adults.

"Para-Sport! Inclusive Sports Day" Offers Opportunities to Promote Inclusive Education

In May 2024, we launched a new program, "Para-Sport! Inclusive Sports Day," which introduces inclusive events into sports days to provide opportunities for promoting inclusive education by helping teachers and students understand inclusive concepts and their importance.