Kenji Shiratori
Blind art appreciator, photographer

Kenji Shiratori was born with severe amblyopia. By the age of 12, he could only see light, and by his mid-20s, he had grown totally blind. He thereafter embarked independently on activities of appreciating art while talking to people, and has since has visited museums around Japan dozens of times a year for more than 20 years. He has served as a navigator for lectures and workshops at Art Tower Mito and other places. His favorite things are music and alcohol. In 2022, he appeared in the movie, Me no Mienai Shiratori-san, Aato wo Mi ni Iku (“Blind Mr. Shiratori Goes to See Art”). His major exhibitions as a photographer include (ta)yoriai, (ta)yoriau) at Hajimari Art Center (Fukushima Prefecture) in 2021, the Atelier Mitsushima special exhibition Manazasu Shintai (“The Gazing Body”) in 2022, and Saitama Triennale 2023 (including the Triennale’s main visual).

Kanako Iwanaka
Art manager, editor

After working as a planner for the community space "SHIBAURA HOUSE" and on-site coordinator for the art project "TURN,” Iwanaka in 2021 joined the editorial department of "Cococo, a creative magazine that explores social welfare.” Since 2023, she has also been active as Kenji Shiratori’s manager. Iwanaka is involved in art management, including art expression born from everyday life, expressive activities undertaken in collaborations with people and communities having diverse backgrounds, production of performing arts, and editing of reports on art.

Hiroyuki Harada
Facility Director at PICFA (Disability Welfare Service Facility), Seimeikai Medical Corporation

Raised with an older brother who had a disability, Harada enrolled in Nihon Fukushi University motivated by an interest in “welfare” and “happiness.” From 2002, he began working at JOY Club, a welfare service office for people with disabilities, and in 2017, he launched Japan's first type-B support facility “PICFA,” operated by a medical corporation, where he has since served as facility director.

PICFA

PICFA was established in 2017 as a Type B facility continuous employment facility where people with intellectual disabilities, autism, Down syndrome, and other disabilities can undertake creative activities as a job. The name is a blend of the words “Picture” and “Welfare.”
Reference:https://picfa-shop.jp/pages/about

Masakazu Shigeta
Representative Director, OSAJI Co., Ltd. and Vice President, Japan CAREMAKE Association

In 2017, Shigeta founded the skin care and lifestyle brand “OSAJI,” which develops products for sensitive skin, based on dermatology, and manufactures products with an emphasis on fragrance and the five senses. He also serves as the vice president of the Japan CAREMAKE Association and engages in social activities through beauty products, such as promoting understanding of “Blind Makeup®,” a technique allowing people with visual impairments to apply their own makeup. He is the author of “Eating as Beauty Care” (Shufu-to-Seikatsusha, 2024).

Hiroyuki Harada
Facility Director at PICFA (Disability Welfare Service Facility), Seimeikai Medical Corporation

Raised with an older brother who had a disability, Harada enrolled in Nihon Fukushi University motivated by an interest in “welfare” and “happiness.” From 2002, he began working at JOY Club, a welfare service office for people with disabilities, and in 2017, he launched Japan's first type-B support facility “PICFA,” operated by a medical corporation, where he has since served as facility director.

PICFA

PICFA was established in 2017 as a Type B facility continuous employment facility where people with intellectual disabilities, autism, Down syndrome, and other disabilities can undertake creative activities as a job. The name is a blend of the words “Picture” and “Welfare.”
Reference:https://picfa-shop.jp/pages/about