[98% Satisfaction] DEI Education & Training Program 'Asu-Challe!' Taught by Para-Athletes Celebrates 10th Anniversary: 660,000 Participants from Children to Adults, Data Releasing Supporting Attitude & Behavior Changes
The DEI education and training program 'Asu-Challe!', provided by The Nippon Foundation Parasports Support Center and taught by para-athletes, marked its 10th anniversary. With over 660,000 participants, surveys demonstrate a clear positive shift in attitudes toward people with disabilities.
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- 📰 Published: April 23, 2026 at 23:00
- 🔍 Collected: April 23, 2026 at 14:31
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 23, 2026 at 22:31 (7h 59m after Collected)
The Nippon Foundation Parasports Support Center (Parasapo, located in Minato-ku, Tokyo, Chairman: Yasushi Yamawaki), aiming to realize a DEI society where everyone can thrive under the slogan 'SOCIAL CHANGE with SPORTS', has been hosting a total of five 'Asu-Challe!' programs since April 2016. These include educational programs for elementary, junior high, high, and special needs schools, and training programs for companies, organizations, local governments, and universities, featuring para-athletes as instructors. It celebrated its 10th anniversary in April 2026.
Over the 10 years up to the end of fiscal 2025, the cumulative number of events reached 6,470, with over 660,000 participants.
In fiscal 2026, we aim to hold over 700 events nationwide annually in cooperation with our three partners: JTB Corp., MIXI, Inc., and Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.
From the Fiscal 2025 'Asu-Challe!' Survey Results
Among the five 'Asu-Challe!' programs, for 'Asu-Challe! School' and 'Asu-Challe! Junior Academy', which have the highest number of events and participants, we conduct pre- and post-class surveys on 'images of people with disabilities' for participating elementary, junior high, and high school students.
In the fiscal 2025 survey, results showed that positive images such as 'cheerful' and 'respectable' increased after the class, while all negative images such as 'inconvenienced' and 'pitiful' decreased. This indicated an image change that supports the realization of a DEI society.
Furthermore, across all five 'Asu-Challe!' programs, the satisfaction rate of participants achieved a high rating of 98% (from fiscal 2025 survey results).
6 Topics from 'Asu-Challe!' in Fiscal 2025
1. Asu-Challe! Messenger
Lecture to 700 Educators! (May 2025)
Eri Yamamoto, an active para powerlifting athlete and director of Parasapo's DEI Program Promotion Department, gave a lecture titled 'Noticing through Para-Sports: The Power of Inclusive Education to Expand Children's Potential' at the Shimoina Education Board General Assembly held at the Iida Cultural Hall in Nagano Prefecture on May 17.
2. Asu-Challe! Academy
Launched New Disaster Prevention Plan! (September 2025)
We launched a new disaster prevention plan for 'Asu-Challe! Academy', an empathy and DEI training program learning from para-athletes. It is a practical training integrating academic and field knowledge, co-developed by Professor Shigeo Tatsuki of Doshisha University, who specializes in welfare disaster prevention, and active para-athletes who experienced the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake.
3. Asu-Challe! Junior Academy
Instructor Hiroaki Mori Makes His Debut! (October 2025)
In the workshop-style class 'Asu-Challe! Junior Academy' learning about para-athletes and an inclusive society, active cross-country skier Hiroaki Mori, who competed in the Beijing 2022 Winter Paralympics, debuted as a new instructor.
4. Asu-Challe!
Reached 6,000 Events in its 10th Year! (October 2025)
The five DEI education and training programs 'Asu-Challe!' taught by para-athletes, held at schools, companies, and local governments nationwide, reached a cumulative total of 6,000 events on October 31.
The number of participants exceeded 610,000.
5. Asu-Challe! School
Instructor Masaharu Ishihara Makes His Debut! (December 2025)
In the para-sports experiential outreach class 'Asu-Challe! School', instructor Masaharu Ishihara, who competed as a representative of Japan in men's wheelchair basketball at the Sydney 2000 Paralympics, debuted as a new instructor for the wheelchair basketball program.
6. Asu-Challe! School
Reached 3,000 Events in its 10th Year! (February 2026)
Over the 10 years up to the end of fiscal 2025, the cumulative number of events reached 6,470, with over 660,000 participants.
In fiscal 2026, we aim to hold over 700 events nationwide annually in cooperation with our three partners: JTB Corp., MIXI, Inc., and Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.
From the Fiscal 2025 'Asu-Challe!' Survey Results
Among the five 'Asu-Challe!' programs, for 'Asu-Challe! School' and 'Asu-Challe! Junior Academy', which have the highest number of events and participants, we conduct pre- and post-class surveys on 'images of people with disabilities' for participating elementary, junior high, and high school students.
In the fiscal 2025 survey, results showed that positive images such as 'cheerful' and 'respectable' increased after the class, while all negative images such as 'inconvenienced' and 'pitiful' decreased. This indicated an image change that supports the realization of a DEI society.
Furthermore, across all five 'Asu-Challe!' programs, the satisfaction rate of participants achieved a high rating of 98% (from fiscal 2025 survey results).
6 Topics from 'Asu-Challe!' in Fiscal 2025
1. Asu-Challe! Messenger
Lecture to 700 Educators! (May 2025)
Eri Yamamoto, an active para powerlifting athlete and director of Parasapo's DEI Program Promotion Department, gave a lecture titled 'Noticing through Para-Sports: The Power of Inclusive Education to Expand Children's Potential' at the Shimoina Education Board General Assembly held at the Iida Cultural Hall in Nagano Prefecture on May 17.
2. Asu-Challe! Academy
Launched New Disaster Prevention Plan! (September 2025)
We launched a new disaster prevention plan for 'Asu-Challe! Academy', an empathy and DEI training program learning from para-athletes. It is a practical training integrating academic and field knowledge, co-developed by Professor Shigeo Tatsuki of Doshisha University, who specializes in welfare disaster prevention, and active para-athletes who experienced the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake.
3. Asu-Challe! Junior Academy
Instructor Hiroaki Mori Makes His Debut! (October 2025)
In the workshop-style class 'Asu-Challe! Junior Academy' learning about para-athletes and an inclusive society, active cross-country skier Hiroaki Mori, who competed in the Beijing 2022 Winter Paralympics, debuted as a new instructor.
4. Asu-Challe!
Reached 6,000 Events in its 10th Year! (October 2025)
The five DEI education and training programs 'Asu-Challe!' taught by para-athletes, held at schools, companies, and local governments nationwide, reached a cumulative total of 6,000 events on October 31.
The number of participants exceeded 610,000.
5. Asu-Challe! School
Instructor Masaharu Ishihara Makes His Debut! (December 2025)
In the para-sports experiential outreach class 'Asu-Challe! School', instructor Masaharu Ishihara, who competed as a representative of Japan in men's wheelchair basketball at the Sydney 2000 Paralympics, debuted as a new instructor for the wheelchair basketball program.
6. Asu-Challe! School
Reached 3,000 Events in its 10th Year! (February 2026)