On Monday, October 25, 2021, Yamaguchi University and Shinshu University co-hosted a symposium titled “The Act for Eliminating Discrimination Against People with Disabilities’ and Sports Tourism in Yamaguchi Prefecture ” at the University Hall on Yamaguchi University’s Yoshida Campus. The symposium was based on the Research Center for Yamaguchi Studies, “Development of Sports Tourism Resources in Yamaguchi Prefecture through SDGs (organized by Associate Professor Tatsuru Nishio, Faculty of Economics).
In the first session, Ms.Ayano Kato, Lecturer, Shinshu University, gave a lecture on “The Act for Eliminating Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities and Universal Tourism,”. The Yamaguchi University Tourism Agency Chair Joint Graduate Team (Funa Hashimoto: United Graduate School of Agricultural Sciences, Tottori University (Yamaguchi University), Yuki Naruo: Graduate School of Economics. Kodai Kidera: Graduate School of Agriculture) introduced an outdoor wheelchair (Hippocamp) ride across Shuhodo Cave and an exhibit at the Yamaguchi Kirara Expo Memorial Park.
In the second session, Ms. Nakaoka, the representative of SOU, company that provide adapted activities and programs to people with progressive intractable diseases with no cure, gave a lecture titled “‘Mother Nature is Full of Barriers’ and that’s why it’s fun! “. A panel discussion (moderated by Associate Professor Nishio, panelists: Ms. Nakaoka (representative for SOU), Ms. Kato and Mr. Koizumi (Shinshu University) discussed the potential of universal tourism in Yamaguchi Prefecture from the perspective of SDGs, including examples of leading projects in Europe and Nagano Prefecture.
