We have supported the artistic activities of people with disabilities across seven regions in Japan from 2020 to 2022, as part of the “Co-Creation Project for the Cultural and Artistic Activities of People with Disabilities,” launched in connection with the Japan Cultural Expo. Since 2023, taking the 2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo as an opportunity, we have been working toward the realization of “Universal Tourism in Arts and Culture,” where everyone, including people with disabilities both in Japan and abroad, can access culture and the arts anytime, anywhere. Together with organizations of people with disabilities and their supporters, we have strengthened cooperation with transportation providers, local governments, and welfare service providers, expanding our activities across the country and achieving many significant outcomes.
However, through our activities, we came to realize that many people are still forced to give up on art and travel simply because of their disabilities. We are also keenly aware that numerous challenges remain in making the simple, natural wish for “anyone, anytime, and anywhere” to access art and travel a reality.
With the message “Here I am, and you are…,” we once again bring “expressions of the soul” to the world, using the Expo as our stage. This festival will introduce the cultural and artistic expressions of people with disabilities in Japan to a global audience. At the same time, we will launch the “Universal Tourism Project for Arts and Culture,” connecting the Expo venue with regions across Japan. The project encourages international visitors to explore local areas, offering opportunities to experience Japan’s deep and diverse regional culture. A recovery support program is also being planned for the Hokuriku region, affected by the Noto Peninsula Earthquake.

1_Wednesday, October 8 | 18:00–
Prologue Performance: Japan Heritage “Iwami Kagura (Kuwanoki Kagurakai)”
Iwami Kagura is a traditional performing art primarily performed by people with disabilities. It originated from the leisure activities of the Iwami Welfare Association, a social welfare organization in Shimane Prefecture. The dynamic performance, featuring vibrant costumes and powerful dances, presents a bold new form of cultural heritage preservation and a compelling expression of self. It powerfully moves the hearts of all who witness it.
2_Thursday, October 9 | 17:00–
“Condors × Handles” Collaborative Performance
A session between “Condors,” led by Mr. Ryohei Kondo, Artistic Director of the Saitama Arts Theater, and “Handles,” a performance group of people with disabilities. An innovative dance stage woven together by diverse bodies.
3_Friday, October 10 | 15:30–
DJ OSSHY Presents: “Inclusive Disco”
A special Expo edition of “Universal Disco©” by DJ OSSHY, widely featured on NHK and other media.
We will create a dance floor where everyone is the star, combining wheelchair dancing that transcends physical limitations with crossover performances that blend dance, music, and fashion.

“Discover”:
We will hold an exhibition curated by Hiromi Kurosawa (CAO, Heralbony Co., Ltd.) titled “Avant-Garde—Yes we are!.”
Running concurrently, a separate display will introduce historically significant and widely used items selected from various products that have supported the lives of people with disabilities.
“Take Home”:
We will produce and sell goods that incorporate inclusive design currently in use, along with catalogs of the participating artists.
“Satisfy Your Appetite”:
Products involving people with disabilities are also seen as a form of “expression.”
A food court featuring kitchen cars from agricultural-welfare partnerships will serve “safe and delicious” light meals, made with carefully cultivated ingredients, in collaboration with Aim Services Co., Ltd., which provided meals for athletes during the 2021 international sports event. Some food preparation and sales will be handled by people with disabilities, creating opportunities for meaningful interaction through food.
Freshly harvested rice from this year’s crop will also be available for purchase.
“Take with You”:
We aim for visitors to take home not only the inspiration and encounters from the Expo, but also a vision of a future society where people of diverse backgrounds live together in harmony.

Dates: October 8 (Wed) – October 11 (Sat), 2025
Venues: EXPO Hall “Shine Hat” and Gallery WEST, within the Osaka-Kansai Expo site
Organizers: New Inclusion Japan Association, Inc., Japan Arts Council, Agency for Cultural Affairs
Cooperation:
National Network Forum for Promoting Arts and Cultural Activities of Disabled People
Collaboration: Governors Association for Promoting Arts and Cultural Activities of Disabled People
Collaboration: International Festival of Disabled People’s Arts and Culture / 2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo Project Co-Creation Consortium
The festival’s Executive Producer: Mr. Nozomu Makino, formerly of NHK.

Please contact:
Secretariat, New Inclusion Japan Association, Inc.
2F-C, Daisan-Wako Building, 7-17-6 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-0023, Japan
Email: info@zen-iku.jp