Art Exhibition by Artists with Disabilities Debuts at Yokohama Distribution Center [Kanagawa]

Palsystem Kanagawa Consumer Cooperative (Headquarters: Shin-Yokohama, Kohoku Ward, Yokohama; Chairperson: Junko Fujita) held the unveiling event of its disability-inclusive art exhibition 'Pal Art' on Thursday, June 11, at the Yokohama Kita Center (Midori Ward, Yokohama). Staff members from Palsystem Kanagawa and the artists who created the works attended, gathering around the diverse and expressive artworks to exchange ideas and build connections.

'Pal Art' Aims for a Society Where Everyone Can Shine — Fourth Exhibition Site

'Pal Art' is an initiative designed to create opportunities for people with disabilities through art exhibitions. Its concept is 'enjoying art created by local community members together with cooperative members, staff, and residents.' First launched at the Shin-Yokohama headquarters in March 2026, this marks the fourth exhibition site following the Miyamae and Asao Centers.

At the Yokohama Kita Center, Palsystem Kanagawa has entered into an annual leasing agreement with 'Kapukapu Kawawa,' operated by the NPO Kapukapu (Chairperson: Yoshihito Soeda, Asahi Ward, Yokohama). Artworks will be rotated every three months, allowing visitors and staff to enjoy a variety of pieces while supporting the continuous employment of artists with disabilities.

The informational signboard explaining the purpose of 'Pal Art' was commissioned to artist Takechiyamaru from IKIIKI Company, a Type B Supported Employment Workshop operated by the Yokohama Mobility Services Council (Chairperson: Kazuhiro Hattori, Chuo Ward, Yokohama). The signboard was crafted using thinned bamboo harvested from a bamboo grove at the Miyamae Center premises, contributing to local resource utilization. During the unveiling event, Takechiyamaru personally inscribed the date to complete the sign.

At the event, Yosuke Sakai, a staff member from Palsystem Kanagawa's Recruitment and Development Division, and Division Chief Kazuo Asakura introduced the launch of the 'Pal Art' program. They emphasized how this initiative supports Palsystem Kanagawa’s 2030 Vision: 'building a community where everyone recognizes and lives together with one another.'

The participating artists engaged with attendees by explaining their creative processes and artistic considerations. Some even drew Palsystem’s official mascot 'Konsenkun' directly onto artworks, delighting visitors with spontaneous smiles. Homemade pound cakes and cookies sold by Kapukapu Kawawa were served at the venue, allowing guests to enjoy both art and treats.

Chairperson Fujita opened the event by saying, 'We believe Pal Art offers wonderful artistic experiences. We’ve already received heartwarming feedback from users and other organizations saying they want to come see the exhibition. We look forward to seeing even more artworks created in the future.'

Junji Yako, Center Manager of the Yokohama Kita Center, expressed his hopes for the future: 'Your works are powerful and convey messages beyond words. Through Pal Art, we hope to expand opportunities for community exchange.'

Palsystem Kanagawa currently employs 21 staff members with disabilities—exceeding the legally mandated employment quota of 13—and receives disability employment adjustment grants. These funds are being used to cover lease payments for 'Pal Art' and to promote the program across various facilities in Kanagawa Prefecture, further expanding opportunities for people with disabilities. The cooperative also plans to use these grants during artwork rotations to commission tasks to support organizations with which they will contract at each site.

Moving forward, Palsystem Kanagawa will continue to collaborate with diverse members of the local community to build an inclusive society where everyone can thrive.

Palsystem Kanagawa Consumer Cooperative

Headquarters: Shin-Yokohama Kotsu Building, 3-18-16 Shin-Yokohama, Kohoku Ward, Yokohama
Chairperson: Junko Fujita
Capital: 11.98 billion yen, Membership: 368,000, Total Business Volume: 570.2 billion yen (as of March 2025)
Website: https://www.palsystem-kanagawa.coop/

Palsystem Consumer Cooperative Federation
Headquarters: Rakus East Shinjuku, 2-2-6 Okubo, Shinjuku Ward, Tokyo; Chairperson: Yutaka Shibusawa
13 member cooperatives; Total Business Volume: 2,604.2 billion yen, Total Membership: 1.762 million (as of March 2025)
Member Cooperatives: Palsystem Tokyo, Palsystem Kanagawa, Palsystem Chiba, Palsystem Saitama, Palsystem Ibaraki-Tochigi, Palsystem Yamanashi-Nagano, Palsystem Gunma, Palsystem Fukushima, Palsystem Shizuoka, Palsystem Niigata Tokimeki, Palsystem Mutual Aid Federation, Saitama Prefectural Workers’ Cooperative, Ai-Coop Miyagi
Website: https://www.pal-system.co.jp/