Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Minister HASHIMOTO Seiko visits Special Needs Education School for the Mentally Challenged at Otsuka

Ms. HASHIMOTO Seiko, Minister for the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games visited the Special Needs Education School for the Mentally Challenged, University of Tsukuba on February 19. She observed an exchange between the elementary school course of the Special Needs Education School for the Mentally Challenged and Elementary School, University of Tsukuba.

In the visit, Vice Principal NEMOTO Fumio presented an outline of the Special Needs Education School and then moved to the gymnasium where she observed student exchange and collaborative learning. Firstly, each school student presented their dance performance which was learned in their classroom and then they all joined together dancing. Moreover, using the FUTUREGYM? system, which developed under the collaborative research between the Center for Cybernics Research and Special Needs Education School for the Mentally Challenged, University of Tsukuba, students of the two schools played a game with a floor projection created by the system. Minister HASHIMOTO earnestly observed the interactive activity in which the students mutually involved together.

After the activity, Minister HASHIMOTO gave an address to the student, in which she said, "Seeing your exchange activity, I felt that we should realize an inclusive society in which people live happy and actively." And she asked to support the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games. At the end of the visit, Minister HASHIMOTO and all attendees took a commemorative photo in a circle with a fish-eye camera which can take a 360-degree view. That was a moment that all became one. On her way out, she had a casual talk with each student frankly and shook hands. Through her entire visit, she warmly came in contact with the students.