The IncluDE Research Workshop is a forum that invites guest speakers from a wide range of research fields related to DEI and provides an opportunity for participants to engage in discussion.
On December 9, 2025, the 3rd IncluDE Research Workshop was held online.
The theme of this workshop was “UN Recommendations on the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and Japan’s Response: The Role and Actions of Researchers-① Medical and Healthcare Co-production Based on the Human Rights Model of Disability.”
In the first half of the workshop, three speakers gave presentations: Prof. Shinichiro Kumagai
(Vice Director, IncluDE / Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology), Dr. Kiyoto Kasai (Professor, Graduate School of Medicine), Prof. Satsuki Ayaya (Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology).
Prof. Kumagai, speaking from his perspective as Chair of the Cabinet Office Commission on Policy for Persons with Disabilities, introduced the Concluding Observations issued in October 2022 by the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities following its review of the Japanese government’s initial report. He shared key challenges facing disability inclusion in Japan and explained the purpose of this workshop, which is to explore the role of researchers.
Dr. Kasai next presented the transformation of medicine and healthcare through the lens of the human rights model of disability and co-production, while Prof. Ayaya presented the importance of self-advocacy in realizing co-production in medicine and healthcare.
In the second half of the workshop, the speakers were joined by Ms. Kumiko Fujiwara (Member of the Council of Persons with Lived Experience / Representative, DPI Women’s Network Japan) and Mr. Yuhei Yamada (Member of the Council of Persons with Lived Experience / Representative Director, Porque, the Organization of Persons with Psychosocial Disabilities
In addition to comments on the topics presented, participants proposed what research should look like from the perspective of people with lived experience. There was also lively discussion on research themes needed to implement the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and on the potential for addressing challenges through collaboration with researchers
This research workshop was open to the public through the IncluDE website and was conducted in a one-hour webinar format. To ensure accessibility of information, Japanese captions and Japanese Sign Language interpretation were provided.
In addition to IncluDE members, a total of 83 participants joined the workshop, including university faculty and students from outside the University of Tokyo, elementary school teachers, researchers from national research institutes, corporate representatives, local government officials and welfare professionals, and members of NPOs.
Participants raised various questions and comments from diverse perspectives, particularly regarding self-advocacy, creating environments that make it easier for persons with disabilities to speak up and engage in co-creation with professionals, the relationship between the social model and human rights model of disability and politics, and connections between the medical model and the history of medicine. These discussions led to an active and meaningful exchange of ideas throughout the workshop.
