NOMINATION FOR INTERNATIONAL WOMAN OF COURAGE AWARD

UNCLAS TOKYO 003004 SIPDIS SENSITIVE ANDREA BOTTNER, SANDRA PEDROARIAS, G/IWI E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL KPAO PHUM JA SUBJECT: NOMINATION FOR INTERNATIONAL WOMAN OF COURAGE AWARD REF: STATE 00099729 ¶1. (SBU) Embassy Tokyo nominates Nami Takenaka, Chairperson of Prop Station, a non-profit welfare organization for people with disabilities, to receive the Secretary of State's 2009 Award for International Women of Courage (IWOC). ¶2. (SBU) Nami Takenaka was born in 1948 in Kobe, Japan. Blessed with the birth of a daughter some 30 years ago with serious mental and physical disabilities, Nami taught herself the issues surrounding the medical care, welfare, and education for children with disabilities. Nami was a single mother who refused to give up on her own daughter's potential, and that of other children with disabilities. On her own she courageously stood up to the pervasive and severe stigma that both children with disabilities, and the families of children with disabilities, face in Japan, ¶3. (SBU) Initially finding little support, she began a volunteer career that has now spanned more than 20 years. Her activities have included running a toy library, sign language translation, guidance for the visually impaired, assistance at institutions for the severely physically disabled, day-care for those suffering from Alzheimer's, and providing nursing care for paraplegics. She says that her breakthrough came when an American friend referred to people with disabilities as "challenged". "That's it!" she said, "We have to stop thinking of these people as damaged. We have to concentrate on what they can do and not what they cannot do." ¶4. (SBU) Recognizing the great potential that computers and the Internet have for the lives of people with disabilities, Nami established Prop Station in 1991. Prop Station offers training in employable skills and arranges job opportunities that help people with disabilities to live more independent lives and take on a greater role in society. In September 1998, after seven years of operation as an NPO, Prop Station was granted recognition as a Social Welfare Corporation and she became the Chairperson. Since its inception, Prop Station has helped thousands of disabled Japanese to find meaningful, productive work. It has become an internationally recognized innovator in the field of vocational education and advocacy for people with disabilities. ¶5. (SBU) Recognizing that Japanese society and government needed to change their ideas about the disabled, Nami Takenaka began teaching about her "Universal Society" concept in which everyone, men and women, young and elderly, able and disabled, could find a useful contributing role. In 1995 she organized the first "Challenged Japan Forum" (CJF). In 2002 she helped to teach a team of leading Japanese women lawmakers about the Universal Society goal. In 2004 the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport made her Supervisor of the Free Mobility Support Project. In 2005 she became a member of the Cabinet Office's Central COUNCIL for the Promotion of Measures for Disabled Persons. In 2008 she served as a member of former Prime Minister Fukuda's National Commission on Social Security, formed to discuss welfare and other policies. ¶6. (SBU) Rising above great difficulties, and in an environment of ignorance and stigma, Nami Takenaka turned what could have been a personal tragedy into a source of inspiration that enabled her to help thousands of disabled people find productive livelihoods. Because of her uncommon courage and commitment to equal justice, equal rights, and human dignity, she was able to begin a transformation of the way Japanese think about disabled people, a transformation that is continues to grow in strength. ¶7. (SBU) Biographical Data: Full Legal Name: Nami Takenaka. DOB: 1948, Kobe, Japan. Citizenship: Japanese. Job Title: Chairperson. Association: Prop Station. Address: Kobe Head Office 6E-13, 6-9 Rokko Island, Koyo-Cho-Naka, Higashinada-ku, Kobe, Hyogo, Japan 658-0032. Phone: 81-78-845-2263. E-mail: nami@prop.or.jp. Passport number: currently unavailable. Nami Takenaka has been informed of her nomination. SCHIEFFER