My Career Highlights:
Self-taught, I have learned about medical care, welfare and education for children with disabilities through caring for my daughter, who was born 39 years ago with serious mental and physical disabilities. My main aspiration is to help create a society where those who have disabilities can live more independently and play a better role in society. I got involved in a wider range of volunteer activities, including sign language translation; guidance for the visually impaired; assistance at institutions for the severely physically disabled; management of a toy library; day-care for those suffering from Alzheimer's disease; holding the post of director at the Mainstream Association, an organization geared towards the realization of a greater degree of independence for individuals with disabilities.
In May 1991, a preparatory committee was convened for Prop Station in Hyogo Prefecture. In September 1998, after seven years of activities as an NPO, Prop Station was granted recognition as a social welfare organization, and I was elected as the Director. My daughter continues to be cared for by the staff at the ward for the seriously ill at Aonogahara Hospital, a nationally run hospital in Ono City, Hyogo Prefecture. I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to the staff in whose capable hands I have entrusted her, as well as all those who provided their support and further encouraged and promoted activities of Prop Station.
Professional Affiliations:
April, 2012: Kansai University: Guest Professor.
July, 2011: Hyogo Prefecture: Committee Member, Hyogo Prefecture Social Prize Selection Committee.
September, 2010: Kyoto Prefecture: Member, Assessment Committee for the Promotion of Work Restructuring through IT.
June, 2010: NHK: Committee Member, Management Committee.
June, 2010: The Fire and Disaster Management Agency, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications: Member, Review Session on Fire Alarm Installation for Deaf and Hard-of Hearing.
May, 2010: Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism: Expert Member, Mobility Support Council.
November, 2009: Cabinet Secretariat: Member, Employment Strategy Policy Meeting.
November, 2009: Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications: Member, Optical Broadband Utilization Study Team.
April, 2009: Kobe City: Member, Comprehensive Basic Plan Council.
March, 2009: Cabinet Secretariat: Participant, Advisory Meeting on Overcoming the Economic Crisis.
January, 2008: Cabinet Secretariat: Member, Social Security National Council.
March, 2007: Cabinet Office: Committee Member, Re-Challenge Support Distinguished Service Award Selection Committee.
March, 2007: Cabinet Secretariat: Member, Council for Developing Strategy for Economic Growth.
November, 2006-present: Across the Office and Ministries: Chairperson, Administrative Vice –Minister Project for Developing a Universal Society.
February, 2006: Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare: Member, Advisory Council on Scope of the Insured and Recipients of Nursing Insurance Payment.
June, 2005: Hyogo Prefecture: Member, Hyogo Promotion Conference for a Universal Society.
May, 2005: Cabinet Office: Member, Central Council for the Promotion of Measures for Persons with Disabilities.
May, 2005: Osaka City: Committee Member, The Reform Headquarters.
May, 2005: The House of Representative: Witness, Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare Committee.
July, 2004: Kyoto Prefecture: Member, Assessment Committee for the Promotion of Digitization of the Kyoto Prefectural Government Office.
April, 2004: Kobe City: Member, Policy Proposal Council.
March, 2004: Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism: Supervisor, Free Mobility Supporting Project.
March, 2004: The House of Councilors: Reference, National Life and Economy Research Conference.
February, 2004: Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications: Committee Member, Review Committee on Terrestrial Digital Promotion.
February, 2004: The House of Representative: Speaker at public hearing, Budget Committee.
September, 2003: The National Meeting to Create a New Japan (21st century special study group): Committee Member, Citizen-Oriented Promotion Committee.
May, 2003: Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare: Committee Member, Review Committee on Support for Community Life for Persons with Disabilities.
April, 2003: Kobe City: Member, Kobe Universal Design Promotion Council
April, 2003: Kobe Gakuin University: Guest Professor.
April, 2003: Lecturer, Ruling Party Project Team for Developing a Universal Society.
April, 2003: Osaka Prefecture: Committee Member, Committee for IT Promotion.
January, 2003: Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications: Member, Information and Communication Council.
December, 2002: Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry: Member, Service Industry Forum.
August, 2002: Mie Prefecture:
Advisor, “e-Forum” Support Measures for Telework for Persons with Disabilities.
August, 2002: Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare: Member, Seminar on Telework for Persons with Disabilities.
May, 2002: Cabinet Office: Member, Meeting on New Basic Plan for Persons with Disabilities.
March, 2002: Lecture, Special Mission Committee on the e-Japan Focused Plan.
2002~2004: National Personnel Authority: Lecture, Training Seminar for the Upper Level Staff.
December, 2001: Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology: Member, Research Conference on Special Education.
April, 2001: Kobe City: Kobe City Medical Center General Hospital: Committee Member, Logic Committee.
January, 2001～March, 2010: Ministry of Finance: Member, Fiscal System Council.
January, 2001: Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism:
Member, j-dream (Round-table conference to discuss people’s life in 10 years).
August, 1995-pesent: Sponsor, The Challenged Japan Forums (CJF).
Bibliography:
Nami Takenaka. The Challenge of Prop Station, Chikumashobo, 1998. ISBN 4-480-86315-X
Nami Takenaka. Let’s Be Proud. Japan times, 2000. ISBN 4-7890—1024-4
(“The Challenge of Prop Station” has been translated in English and published by Japan Times.)
Kiyoshi Makida: The Challenged-Nami & Prop Friends-, Yoshimoto Kogyo, 2002.
ISBN 4-9900888-3-2
Nami Takenaka. The Lucky Woman. Asukashinsha, 2003. ISBN 978-4-87031-555-6
Opinion columns in publications:
How Do People with Disabilities Work?: Fujinkoron (1996).
A video work titled “The Challenged”, Edited by Shohei Imamura, Recommended by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (1998).
A Mother Supporting the Independence for Persons with Disabilities: Women Adding Color to the 20th Century (2001).
Let’s Be Proud: The Pioneers with Great Ambitions (2001).
IT Revolutions to Live Proudly: Urban Policy (2001).
The Opinions: Governance (2001~2002).
Nami’s Way: SOHO Domain (2002).
The column, From: Sankei Shinbun (2002 – present).
Opinion News Projects: Asahi Shinbun (2003).
The column, Zuiso: Kobe Shinbun (2003).
The column, Nen-nen Sai-sai: Mainichi Shinbun (2006~ 2007).
Women Creating the Times: Fujinkoron (2010).
Televisions:
June, 1996: TBS, Featured the documentary titled “Make the Challenged Become Taxpayers” on “Japan News Network”.
November, 1999: TBS, Debated with Testuya Chikushi on “News 23”.
February, 2001: ABC, Appeared as a guest on “News YOU”.
January, 2002: NHK Education, Appeared as a guest on “The 2002, My Proposal”.
August, 2003: Fuji TV, Featured the documentary titled “The Lucy Woman” on “Unbelievable”.
October, 2003: MBS, Featured the document titled “Nami & Prop” on “The Document ‘03”.
July, 2004: NHK, Appeared as a guest on “Hello from Studio Park”.
(Featured the documentary titled “Supports to Telework for Persons with Disabilities” on the programs
July, 2005: ABC, Appeared on “News in Depth, Asahi Newstar”.
March, 2007: ABC, Appeared as a guest on “Children’s Future Project”.
October, 2012: YTV, Appeared regularly on “Talk Entertainment News”.
Awards:
Social Science Award from Telecom for the book, “The Challenge of Prop Station” in 1999.
"Avon Woman of the Year" and "Education Award" in 1999.
Civil Welfare Award from Kobe City in 2001.
Internet Category Award of Woman of the Year 2002 from the Nikkei Shinbun in 2001.
Month of Information Award from Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications in 2002.
Social Activity Award from the Kobe Shinbun in 2004.
Women of Courage Award, Japan from the Embassy of the United States in 2009.
120th Anniversary Municipal Government Distinguished Service Award from Kobe City in 2009.
Hyogo Prefecture Social Award from Hyogo Prefecture in 2009.
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