- How do you get involved with the community now?

The other day, my condominium management association decided to take barrier-free measure. I heard it from my wife and so I created documents on my own using PowerPoint to suggest to them where they should refurbish areas to be better. The management company thanked me and said, “This is important”. They are making progress little by little, such as placing rubbers to the steps of the entrance to make it smooth. There are so many things that can limit my access/abilities, so I would like to cooperate with projects such as this to bring a disabled perspective. I think that community planning is something you do not fully realize unless you disseminate it to all parties and see it from all angles.

＜If we face each other closely, the word of obstacles will disappear＞

- How do you usually spend your time with your family?

My son is a freshman in university and my daughter is a sophomore in high school. As I am busy running around and not at home a lot, even if I bring something home for them, they just don’t seem as excited as they were when they were younger! (LOL)

When my children went to kindergarten, I would pick them up and drop them off. One day, my son told me that he did not want to go to school, so I asked him the reason and he told me that his friends were calling me “Hula Hula Man”. I said to him, “All superheroes have “Man” such as Ultra-Man, Anpan-Man and Super-Man. Everyone loves me, but they don’t know how to call me - that is why they are calling me Hula Hula Man, don’t you think? Your father is popular!” Then he decided to go to kindergarten again.

When my son was in the 4th grade, he learned about disabilities in his welfare learning class. When he came home he asked me, "Father, are you a disabled?" When I heard this, I thought it was funny and felt like “Didn’t you know that till now?” Since teachers were also not necessarily familiar with disabled people, they only taught about disabilities as a part of learning knowledge. My children don’t see me as a disabled person but as a "Father". If we face each other closely, someday the word of obstacles will disappear.

＜Bari Bara show is a very influential work＞

- What do you think about the influence of your speech in the Bari Bara show?

NHK's programs are often advanced finely according to the script. But I do not have a script. "Tamaki, put together" "Tamaki, one word" is written only so my part is almost ad lib. When discussing before recording, I mentioned my opinions, including that this is not right to use this VTR. It's a 30-minute show, but it has turned into 90 minutes of the camera and they are making an environment where I can say what I think in my own words. That is why I can continue.

Besides the good things, there was a comment from a friend with disabilities who said, "This show is just an energetic disabled person saying whatever he wants to say". I was very shocked and felt down. On the other hand, when I went to the lecture, a person thanked me and said, “My mother with a language disorder has now spoken” after she watched my lecture. I think it is immeasurable to know where and how I can influence others. I am very thankful and I keep expressing and sharing my true thoughts as they are.

＜Continue thinking, Do not stop thinking＞

- What do you think about the incident in Sagamihara?

When I got up in the morning and turned on the TV, the incident was being reported. I saw an ambulance was departing still after 5 hours of the incident. I thought that perhaps they could not find a hospital to take the disabled in. Even when we have a general sickness such as scars or a stomach ache, many hospitals send us away because they are not specialized in disabled people. I questioned if the government really had a desire to save these disabled people seriously and this made me feel scared. In addition, the media reported that the criminal insisted that "People with disabilities should not exist." How did disabled people across the country feel after hearing this news? There was no consideration by reporters, it was painful for me.

Since that incident, the facility has been rebuilding. I am hoping to build public housings and support them so that people with disabilities can live independently. Initially, the idea that families should take care of handicapped and elderly family members, not allowing them to be independent, is not respectful of that individual. It is important that we keep asking what they want to do, and respect and understand it.

When I had the first special feature about the incident in Sagamihara in the Bari Bara show, I spoke very slowly because I wanted to tell it properly and to not be misunderstood by viewers. I thought I needed to create the chance to think this over for people not only with disabilities but also those who do not have disabilities. I wanted to express to people as much as I could that there is no one being useless.

- What can each of us do?

If I were you, I would like to think seriously how I want to live, where I would like to end at. This is important not only for people with disabilities but for each person to envision how to keep our own lives. Everyone dislikes what I dislike. I don’t like it but there are those people out there who still discriminate. It is important to continue thinking, not to stop thinking. There is no such a thing as needless life.

＜After interview＞

Mr. Tamaki likes to speak out usually. Sometimes when asking questions, I felt that his style of advancing conversation while respecting the opinion of the others is within his personality and that it’s being practiced from a daily perspective to “get into their shoes.” When I asked Mr. Tamaki speaking eloquently, he said to me that "The most important thing is what I want to tell to others". Tamaki's remarks echoing in the minds of people, which are often noticed at the moment, are the trajectories of the accumulated life, I felt it was the clarity of his thought I wanted to convey.

Shizue Odo

I am from Osaka city, Osaka prefecture. After graduating from Doshisha University, I joined a life insurance company. I worked for the company insurance division for about 7 years. As a newspaper industry reporter from 2015, I engage in writing in business / IT fields. I am also working as a freelance writer. Mother of 6-year-old and 3-year-old boys.

December 20, 2016

ENGLISH