Sagamihara City staff attend disability awareness training course

From The Asahi Shimbun via Yahoo! Japan

May 24 2026

KANAGAWA – On May 22, the first training course for “Tomo-Sasaeai Supporters” (Tomo-Sapo), a program established by Sagamihara City, was held in the city. Approximately 80 municipal employees, including senior executives, attended as part of their training. This July marks 10 years since the incident at the “Tsukui Yamayuri En” care home in the city, where 19 residents were murdered. The initiative aims to keep the memory of the tragedy alive, promote an understanding of disabilities, and foster a cohesive society free from discrimination.

During the roughly 45-minute session, the employees watched videos created in collaboration with organizations for people with disabilities to learn about the specific challenges faced by individuals with visual, hearing, and other impairments. In group workshops, they discussed what kind of assistance they could provide in daily life.

Opinions from the staff included comments such as: “Even with accessible multi-purpose toilets, some people still can’t use them because they don’t accommodate the specific nature of their disability,” and “While I can offer support through my work, I haven’t been doing so in my private life. It takes courage to take that first step forward.”

Kiyomitsu Nagai, the director of Tsukui Yamayuri En, also gave a lecture. Reflecting on the incident through the lens of a cohesive society, he emphasized that the goal of residential care facilities has shifted from “supporting what people cannot do” to “supporting what people can do.” He stressed the vital importance of “decision-making support” that respects the individual’s will in daily and social life, no matter how severe their disability may be.

The training courses are free, with sessions open to the general public starting June 16. Elementary and junior high school students can also participate, and anyone can take the course online via the city’s official “Tomo-Sapo” website (https://www.city.sagamihara.kanagawa.jp/kosodate/fukushi/1026641/1034907.html). The city aims to train 70,000 Tomo-Sasaeai Supporters over the next 10 years.