We conducted a photo shoot for the model with disabilities
We conducted a photo shoot for the model with disabilities at Nihon Rikagaku Industry Co., Ltd.
Are you familiar with Nihon Rikagaku Industry Co., Ltd.?
The company has been chosen as ‘The Company We Most Want to Protect in Japan,’ has received the Eiichi Shibusawa Award, and has appeared on Cambria Palace, boasting a brilliant history.
However, what truly makes Nihon Rika Kagaku Kogyo remarkable is their journey.
For over 60 years, they have continued to employ individuals with disabilities, and today, approximately 70% of their employees have a disability.
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Unfortunately, in Japan, there is still a strong perception that ‘employment for people with disabilities equals doing menial tasks,’ and many companies that employ individuals with disabilities do not view them as valuable assets.
Most jobs are things no one else wants to do, like cleaning, and the pay is low.
However, Nihon Rikagaku Industry Co., Ltd. is different.
They leverage the strengths of people with disabilities and, instead of forcing them to adapt to the company’s way of doing things, they adapt the company’s way to suit them.
For example, they use illustrations for those who cannot read and hourglasses to measure time for those who cannot read clocks. For over 60 years, they have been continuously exploring how to create a work environment that is more accessible for them.
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Over 10 years ago, I read ‘The Company We Most Want to Protect in Japan‘ and learned about Nihon Rikagaku Industry Co., Ltd. I was immediately captivated.
I cried many times, realizing that such a wonderful company exists in Japan.
Since starting our model business for children with disabilities last year, my desire to ‘someday collaborate with Nihon Rikagaku Industry Co., Ltd. on a project’ has grown stronger.
Then, in March of this year, I sent an email through the inquiry section on Nihon Rikagaku Industry Co., Ltd.‘s website, just as a long shot.
It was a lengthy email, filled with all my heartfelt thoughts.
I never expected a reply, but to my surprise, the person in charge read the email and responded.
And then… on Saturday, May 9, 2022, Sumire-chan and Nagisa-chan, our models, had a photo shoot as advertising models for Kitpas, one of Nihon Rikagaku Industry Co., Ltd.‘s main products.
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On the day of the shoot, it was pouring rain in the morning, but as the shoot progressed, the rain stopped.
The two models, along with other models, happily and freely drew pictures on the windows using Kitpas.
Sumire-chan and Nagisa-chan met for the first time, but they quickly became close, chatting and drawing pictures together as if they had known each other forever.
What brought their hearts together was Kitpas.
Being able to draw as much as they wanted on such a big window…
For the two of them, who love drawing, it must have been a dream come true.
I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank everyone at Nihon Rikagaku Industry Co., Ltd. for choosing Sumire-chan and Nagisa-chan as models.
Thank you so much for this wonderful opportunity.
Here is a video that shows the greatness of Nihon Rikagaku Industry Co., Ltd.