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September 17, 2008
Training Report : July 9, 2008, PM: Local Vist (Day 3)
At lunchtime, six participants enjoyed Japanese noodle “udon” at Madeini-ya, a noodle shop run by Samegawa Tanpopo-no-ie. It is located in a big shopping mall. Two users with intellectual disability was working there as waiters. Their attentive service to the customers had proved that persons with intellectual disability could be efficient workers when the working environment was arranged. The participants were very impressed to observe how they worked and had to change their views towards persons with intellectual disabilities. Udon, which was served there, was produced at Tanpopo-no-ie. And it became popular among the community people.
After lunch, they visited one of the supporters of Kokoron, Oki Daikichi Honten, a microbrewer of Japanese rice-wine (Sake), where three persons with disabilities were employed. Oki Daikichi Honten was established in 1865. The shop faces the old Oshu-Kaido Highway, one of the five main highways constructed during Edo Period (1603-1867). Mr. Daikichi Oki, the fourth-generation and Mr. Daikichi Oki, the fifth-generation showed them around the brewery to observe how persons with disabilities were working there as well as the process of making sake. Mrs. Oki and her daughter welcomed and entertained the participants with home-made dishes.
They stayed at the Oki Daikichi Honten longer than they planned, and had to hurry to the Samegawa Village Office to have a courtesy visit to Mr. Katsuhiro Daikura, Village Mayor. They had a one-hour fruitful meeting with the mayor and he promised them to work harder for persons with disabilities living in Samegawa Village.
At night all the staff from Samegawa tanpopo-no-ie came to their lodging “Hot House Samegawa” to eat dinner together with the participants. It was a great opportunity to get to know with each other.
http://www.jicafriends.jp/vocational/gi2008/training/v0709pm.html
Posted by jicafriends at September 17, 2008 02:10 PM