“Toward an inclusive society : Cureent state and issues as experienced by a para-athlete familiar with the international world”
Tomoki Tagawa, a para-athlete and graduate of Waseda University, was invited to campus on December 16, 2024, to give a lecture. Approximately 60 attendees l participated, either in person or via live online streaming. Mr. Tagawa spoke about his competitive experiences, including his participation in three Paralympics, interweaving new anecdotes from recent events. His lecture inspired a warm and friendly atmosphere for all those in attendance.
▲ Bronze medal won at the Rio Paralympics
Mr. Tagawa displayed the bronze medal he won at the Rio Paralympics, along with his official uniform. Attendees had the unique opportunity to directly feel and hold the bronze medal.
As a result of past frustrations, he never gave up and kept running until the end, Mr. Tagawa and his teammates remained undaunted and kept running, eventually securing the bronze medal for Japan. This medal was especially interesting for the lecture attendees, as the gold, silver, and bronze medals from the Rio Paralympics, apparently, each produce a different, distinct sound when shaken.
▲ Tomoki Tagawa presenting his lecture
Mr. Tagawa currently serves as captain of his team. His teammates include athletes with intellectual disabilities, those with cerebral palsy, as well as individuals with no physical or intellectual disabilities. While each athlete competes to achieve their personal goals, Mr. Tagawa emphasized that the team as a whole is an embodiment of our desired inclusive society.
At the end of his speech, Mr. Tagawa was presented with a surprise flower bouquet from the Professor under whom he studied at Waseda University’s graduate school. The lecture venue was decorated with congratulatory flower arrangements, arranged by volunteers from the Professor’s research lab. It was a very glamorous lecture that showed his personality.
