Sanriku Universal Beach Project to be Held in Kamaishi and Rikuzentakata on August 8-9

NPO Suma Universal Beach Project and Certified NPO Plus One Happiness will hold the "Sanriku Universal Beach Project" at Neha Beach in Kamaishi City, Iwate Prefecture, and at Takata Matsubara Beach in Rikuzentakata City, Iwate Prefecture, aiming to create beaches where people with and without disabilities can enjoy together. We will hold an experience event for universal beaches, utilizing beach mats and amphibious wheelchairs, allowing everyone to enjoy the sea regardless of disability. The event will take place over two days, August 8 (Sat.) and 9 (Sun.), 2026, from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM at each venue. URL: https://www.plus.1happiness.or.jp/wp/interaction/1135/ The Vision of the Sanriku Universal Beach Project Executive Committee "Just living isn't enough; you have to enjoy life." The Sanriku Sea, which has been restored and is now open again after the devastating tsunami of the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011, will host a universal beach event at Neha Beach in Kamaishi City and Takata Matsubara Beach in Rikuzentakata City. This is a project to support the desire to "enter the sea," which had been given up due to disability. When you try it, you can "enter." Summer 2026: "Let's go to the sea!" We want to make it possible for anyone to go to the sea naturally when they think of it. We aim to spread this normalcy from Sanriku, regardless of disability. Event Overview Date & Time: Saturday, August 8 & Sunday, August 9, 2026, 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM (Event proceeds in rain, cancelled in severe weather) Venue: Saturday, August 8 | Neha Beach, Kamaishi City, Iwate Prefecture Sunday, August 9 | Takata Matsubara Beach, Rikuzentakata City, Iwate Prefecture Capacity: Approximately 8 groups per venue (reservations required) Fee: Free Target Audience: Individuals with disabilities and their families What to bring: Comfortable clothing, swimsuit, towel, drinks *Wheelchair-accessible portable toilets, changing rooms, and portable showers will be provided. *At the Kamaishi venue, you can also freely use the air-conditioned multi-purpose room with a diaper changing space within the Neha Rest House. Organizer: Certified NPO Plus One Happiness Co-organizers: Kamaishi DMC Co., Ltd., Rikuzentakata City Tourism and Products Association Supervision: Sanriku Universal Beach Project Executive Committee Support: Kamaishi City, Kamaishi City Board of Education, Rikuzentakata City, Rikuzentakata City Board of Education Cooperation: Kamaishi Association for Creating Barrier-Free Nature Play Kamaishi Lifesaving Club / Sanriku BLUE ADVENTURE Mother and Child Pediatric Home Visit Nursing Station cocolu Special Cooperation: NPO Suma Universal Beach Project This project is implemented with the support of the Iwate Welfare Foundation Grant Program by the Foundation for the Promotion of Welfare of Iwate Residents. Participant Application Form (Kamaishi & Rikuzentakata Common) https://forms.gle/BKTXNvWiNdSv6vKY6 Volunteer Application Form (Kamaishi & Rikuzentakata Common) https://x.gd/UmY20 Organization Name: NPO Suma Universal Beach Project Location: Dorf 21-102, 1-14-10 Komagabayashi-cho, Nagata-ku, Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture Representative: Shunsuke Kido Established: November 2, 2017 URL: https://sumauniversalbeach.com/ Business Activities: With the motto "Turning everyone's 'cannot do' into 'can do!'," we are engaged in activities to promote universal design beaches that everyone, including people with disabilities, the elderly, and small children, can enjoy. Since fiscal year 2021, our activities have been featured in junior high school social studies civics textbooks under the title "People Aiming for a Sustainable Future" as an advanced example for achieving SDGs. - Excellence Award, Public-Private Partnership Award (2026) - ICC Summit Catapult Presentation (2025, 2026) - Featured on Official Government Public Relations SNS (FY2025) - Blue Flag Best Practice Award, 2nd Place Worldwide (FY2023) - Japan Tourism Agency Blue Flag Certified Case (FY2022, FY2023) - Featured in Education Publishing Junior High School Civics Textbook (FY2021) - Japan Tourism Agency Advanced Case for Achieving Sustainable Tourism (FY2020) - IAUD International Universal Design Award Gold Prize (2019) - Hyogo Universal Society Creation Award (2018) Suma Universal Beach Project PR Office Secretariat Director: Shogo Tsuchihara HP: Via the form on https://sumauniversalbeach.com/ TEL: 080-3782-4405 Email: sumauniversalbeach@gmail.com