Japan health ministry teams up with film to promote understanding of developmental disabilities

By Barrier Free Japan

August 6

TOKYO – Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) announced in a press release on August 5 that it has partnered with the upcoming film Parallel and Vertical as part of a nationwide campaign to promote public understanding of developmental disabilities.

The collaboration, timed ahead of the film’s Aug. 28 nationwide release, includes the production of awareness posters and the launch of a dedicated campaign website aimed at encouraging greater understanding of the diverse characteristics of people with developmental disabilities.

According to the ministry, the initiative forms part of its broader developmental disability support policies and seeks to foster greater awareness that each person experiences developmental differences in unique ways.

Parallel and Vertical tells the story of the relationship between a brother with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and his younger sister, who has supported him since childhood. The film portrays characteristics associated with ASD, including a strong preference for routines, through the brother’s meticulous approach to his cleaning job and the way he organizes meals at home.

The ministry said the film also depicts misunderstandings arising from a lack of public awareness about autism, as well as the emotional burdens faced by family members, while highlighting how people with disabilities can live independently in their communities with understanding and support from employers and local residents.

As part of the campaign, approximately 33,000 posters will be displayed at around 700 locations nationwide, including local government offices, Developmental Disability Support Centers, railway stations, airports and autism associations. The campaign will also appear on digital signage displays.

The MHLW said it hopes the initiative will encourage more people to learn about developmental disabilities and deepen public understanding beyond its annual awareness activities held each April to coincide with World Autism Awareness Day.

The ministry also supports the Developmental Disability Navi Portal, an information website jointly operated by the National Rehabilitation Center for Persons with Disabilities and the National Institute of Special Needs Education, which provides information on developmental disabilities and promotes public awareness.

Parallel and Vertical, directed by Seitaro Kobayashi and starring Shota Yasuda and Non, opens in cinemas across Japan on Aug. 28. The story follows the siblings as they confront a major turning point in their lives when the younger sister prepares to marry, prompting both to reconsider the nature of their lifelong bond.