"AsuChalle!" 3 Programs Receive Endorsement from Japan's Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology

Three DEI education and training programs offered by The Nippon Foundation Paralympic Support Center (Location: Minato-ku, Tokyo; Chairman: Yasuhiro Yamawaki; hereinafter referred to as "Para-Sports") under the "AsuChalle!" initiative, which has been held domestically and internationally since 2016, have officially received endorsement for the use of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology's (MEXT) name as of June 17, 2026.

Overview of MEXT Endorsed Programs

"AsuChalle! School": Hands-on Parasport Experience Class

Through demonstrations of parasports by para-athlete instructors, hands-on experiences for students, and lectures, this program fosters empathy for others, understanding of disabilities, courage to challenge possibilities, and the ability to set dreams and goals.

Official Website

https://www.parasapo.tokyo/asuchalle/school/

"AsuChalle! Junior Academy": Learning About Coexistence with Para-Athletes

By considering, trying, and reflecting on rules and strategies for playing with instructors who use wheelchairs or have visual impairments, students learn the importance of trial and error and the joy of the process, while also learning to accept others and work towards a common goal.

Official Website

https://www.parasapo.tokyo/asuchalle/jracademy/

"AsuChalle! Messenger": Career Education Class for High School Students

During this crucial period for deciding future careers, para-athletes share candid stories and accounts of their challenges under the theme "You Can Choose Your Way of Life," providing students with an opportunity to reflect on their own future lives.

Official Website

https://www.parasapo.tokyo/asuchalle/messenger/highschool/

"AsuChalle!" is a DEI education program that began in fiscal year 2016 and has been continuously implemented as part of educational activities in elementary, junior high, high schools, and special needs schools.

Currently, educational settings are promoting the development of learning environments where all children, regardless of disability, can learn together and respect each other.

The "AsuChalle! School" and "AsuChalle! Junior Academy," which have now become MEXT-endorsed programs, aim to break down children's preconceptions about disabilities and foster an attitude of actively engaging with diverse individuals, directly responding to these contemporary educational needs.

(※Indeed, surveys of participating children and students have demonstrated a positive increase in their image of people with disabilities after the classes.)

<Reference 1> "AsuChalle! School" and "AsuChalle! Junior Academy" | Survey Results on "Image of People with Disabilities"

Press Release dated April 13, 2026

https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000158.000023445.html

This press release announces the results of a survey on "Image of People with Disabilities" conducted before and after classes for elementary, junior high, and high school students who participated in "AsuChalle! School" and "AsuChalle! Junior Academy" in fiscal year 2025.

✓ Positive images such as "cheerful" and "respectable" increased after the classes.

✓ Negative images such as "inconvenient" and "pitiful" all decreased after the classes.

<Reference 2> "AsuChalle! Messenger" Career Education Class for High School Students | Three Skills to Cultivate x Student Feedback

"AsuChalle! Messenger" is a career education class for high school students where para-athletes share their real-life experiences after speech training, and students discuss amongst themselves. The satisfaction rate was 96% according to survey results.

1: Self-Understanding and Self-Management Skills

Develops the foundation for making choices true to oneself by recognizing one's own values, strengths, and preconceptions.

"Instead of being introverted by worrying about others, I decided to value what I like and my identity."

"I will be conscious of making choices according to my own heart."

2: Problem-Solving Skills and Facing Difficulties

Cultivates problem-solving skills by accepting the trial and error of para-athletes as a personal experience.

"I want to build a strong heart that can challenge new things without fear, believing in myself."

"Regret for not doing is worse than regret for doing. I decided to live on without giving up, even if it's tough."

3: Ability to Proactively Choose the Future (Career Planning Skills)

Provides an opportunity to think, choose, and act with one's own will through lectures themed "You Can Choose Your Way of Life."

"After this lecture, I want to live with confidence in my choices starting tomorrow."

"I want to start doing what I can now towards my future dreams."

Leveraging 10 years of accumulated knowledge, we will continue to aim for the enhancement of "active, interactive, and deep learning" and "experiential and inquiry-based learning" promoted by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology.

About "AsuChalle!"

Official Website | https://www.parasapo.tokyo/asuchalle/outline/

Under the slogan "SOCIAL CHANGE with SPORTS," we aim to realize a DEI society where everyone can thrive. Since April 2016, we have been holding five "AsuChalle!" programs both domestically and internationally: educational programs for elementary, junior high, high schools, and special needs schools by para-athlete instructors, and training programs for companies, organizations, local governments, and universities. In April 2026, we celebrated our 10th anniversary.

Over the 10 years up to the end of fiscal year 2025, the cumulative number of sessions held has exceeded 6,470, and the number of participants has surpassed 660,000.

In fiscal year 2026, we aim to hold over 700 sessions nationwide annually in cooperation with our three partner companies: JTB Corporation, MIXI, Inc., and Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.

About The Nippon Foundation Paralympic Support Center (Para-Sports)

Official Website | https://www.parasapo.or.jp/about/

Under the slogan "SOCIAL CHANGE with SPORTS," Para-Sports aims to change society through sports towards the realization of a DEI society where everyone's differences are recognized and everyone can thrive.

The Nippon Foundation Paralympic Support Center* (Para-Sports), which began its activities in May 2015 with support from The Nippon Foundation, opened a joint office with sports federations and related organizations in November 2015 to build a sustainable operational structure for Paralympic sports federations that faced challenges in their operational foundations. We are also working to strengthen their foundations by providing grants for essential expenses such as secretariat personnel costs, public relations and awareness activities to increase the number of participants, and marketing costs, as well as by offering "Shared Services" that consolidate common tasks such as accounting and translation for efficient organizational management.

In June 2018, we opened the "Nippon Foundation Para Arena" for the purpose of improving the training environment for para-athletes and implementing public relations and awareness events. To date, over 83,000 para-athletes have utilized the facility.

The "AsuChalle!" educational programs for elementary, junior high, high schools, and special needs schools, and training programs for companies, organizations, local governments, and universities, led by para-athlete instructors, have been held 6,470 times domestically and internationally from fiscal year 2016 to the end of fiscal year 2025, with 660,000 participants ranging from children to adults.

Furthermore, in May 2024, we launched a new program, "Para-Sports! Inclusive Sports Day," which introduces inclusive events into sports days to provide opportunities for promoting inclusive education by helping teachers and students understand inclusive thinking and its importance.

*Name changed from The Nippon Foundation Paralympic Support Center in January 2022