"Himawari Village Cherry Blossom Festival 2026" to be Held

[Date and Time]

Sunday, April 5, 2026, 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM (Reception starts from 9:45 AM)

[Venue]

1-11 Otte-cho, Hekinan City, Aichi Prefecture (Venue Name: Multi-purpose facility CORRIN)

Aiseikan Group (hereinafter, Aiseikan), which operates medical, nursing care, and welfare businesses, will hold the "Himawari Village Cherry Blossom Festival 2026" at the multi-purpose facility CORRIN in Hekinan City, Aichi Prefecture, on Sunday, April 5, 2026.

This event is a community exchange event that expresses gratitude to the local residents and deepens community ties through interaction across generations and positions. Last year, approximately 900 people attended, and this year marks its 10th anniversary.

On the day of the event, there will be an accessory workshop by medical student volunteers from Fujita Health University and children with disabilities, a dementia VR experience, and a lecture by Kiyohiko Kobayashi, Representative of Aiseikan Group, titled "Why Aiseikan Engages in Disability Services."

[Interview Point ①]

9 Medical Students Provide Support! An Accessory Workshop Where Children with Disabilities Act as Teachers

Nine medical students from Fujita Health University will participate as volunteers. Ten children attending the after-school day service "Hidamari" will utilize their daily creative activities to act as teachers, and the medical students will support them in holding an accessory workshop.

The percentage of children in regular classes who may have developmental disabilities is estimated to be about 8.8%, and the number of children using after-school day services has increased approximately fourfold in 10 years. As collaboration between healthcare and welfare is increasingly needed, this initiative creates an opportunity for students aspiring to work in healthcare to experience the welfare field and play a role alongside children with disabilities.

[Interview Point ②]

Popular Last Year Too! Dementia VR Experience (FACEDUO)

As of 2025, it is estimated that there will be approximately 6 million elderly people with dementia, and one in five people aged 65 or older will have dementia or be at risk (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare). This project offers a program where participants can experience the world through the eyes of someone with dementia using VR. Beyond gaining knowledge, this experience aims to prevent misunderstandings and isolation caused by a lack of understanding, fostering a community-wide awareness of thinking about and supporting those with dementia.

Visitors who participated last year commented, "I truly understood the world seen by people with dementia for the first time," and "It gave me an opportunity to think about how to interact with them."

[Interview Point ③]

Lecture by Representative Kiyohiko Kobayashi: "Why Aiseikan Engages in Disability Services" (tentative)

Why does Aiseikan, which has primarily developed businesses in healthcare and nursing care, engage in disability welfare services? The representative will explain their philosophy and future direction in their own words, covering the local issues behind this initiative and new developments planned for 2027 and beyond.

[Interview Point ④]

Special Lecture: "Living with the Community, Growing with the Community ~The Reality of Disability Employment and Co-education Born from Connections~"

Toshio Sugiura, Representative Director of Sugi Seika Co., Ltd., who has implemented initiatives where people with disabilities work in the community and grow with companies, will speak. He will introduce the reality of the workplace where "co-education" has been continued under the management philosophy of "creating enjoyment." He will discuss how companies and welfare organizations have collaborated to create employment opportunities in the community.