A photographic exhibition "Positive Energies”
Overflowing power to live
The theme is the positive energy of people with Down Syndrome
Japan's first photo exhibition that moved the hearts of people in London

Fumio Nabata ✖︎ Richard Bailey

Fumio NabataRichard Bailey

Fumio Nabata Richard Bailey Shibuya Hikarie 8th floor gallery space "CUBE"
2-21-2 Shibuya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo

22 Jul, - 3 Aug, 2021 11am-8pm (Admission is until 7:30pm)
*24 July until 5:30pm (admission is until 5pm) admission free


● Organizer: Photographic Exhibition "Positive Energies" Executive Committee

● Grants: The Great Britain Sasakawa Foundation, The Daiwa Anglo-Japanese Foundation

● Special sponsorship: Shoko Kanazawa

● Sponsor: Zenchikyosai, Compact Disc ＆ Video Rental Commerce Trade Association of Japan

● Special cooperation: Shifting Perspectives Project

● Supported of the project

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan
Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare
Tokyo Metropolitan Government
Shibuya City
Special Olympics Nippon Foundation
Japan Down Syndrome Society
Down's Syndrome Association
Myanmar Down Syndrome Association
Down Syndrome South Africa
The Photographic Society of Japan
NPO Osaka US Club
NPO Acceptances

Photographer Fumio Nabata
Taking pictures of children with disabilities around the world, mainly Down syndrome,
We are running a project to hold photo exhibitions around the world.

　

●Overview of Photo eExhibition

• Photo exhibition in LondonIn the first photo exhibition “Positive Energies” held in London in 2018, We conducted interviews in Japan, UK, Myanmar and South Africa/We collaborated with two people Richard Bailey, an English photographer and Fiona Yalong Field who shoots pictures related with Down syndrome.
• 
  Based on this UK experience, by holding the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics, He would like to hold the same Photo Exhibition in Japan in 2020, when interest in people with disabilities will increase most.

● The Significance of Project

1. We want to change the mind of people after the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics.

• One of the concepts of the Olympic and Paralympic Games to be held in Tokyo in the summer of 2020 is “Unity with diversity.”.
  The world is evolving to create a society where all people can coexist with inclusive keywords. However, in Japan, only language precedes, and in reality, there is a barrier to social life because of the physical and intellectual disabilities. As a result, the fact that there are few points of contact with each other and that psychological barriers have been created is also a factor that prevents a symbiotic society from progressing.
  “Positive Energies” shall tell the people in the society by showing the pictures of children with Down syndrome interviewed throughout the world who are happily living with their families, grown up and work, or dedicate themselves in various sports, we deliver messages that they are surely the members of our co-living global society with diverse identity and magnetism.
  At the 2020 Japan exhibition, with the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics, many people feel their energy, remove psychological barriers for people with disabilities, and move toward a society where all humans can coexist. I would like to utilize this opportunity as a trigger to this society change.

2. We would like to deliver Positive Energies to worried mothers.

• A girl with Down Syndrome in Mynmar
• In the field of obstetrics, during the past few years, the new prenatal diagnosis test to detect the chromosomal abnormalities of a fetus has been prevailed, and many expecting mothers have that inspection. Now, 90% in UK, 96% in Japan, of the examinees who found positive expecting a children with Down Syndrome choose abortion. (Reference: BBC, UK. Mainichi Newspaper, Japan.) Concerns have been raised by several academic societies that “the result of the test may lead to the selection of lives”.
  
  Under these circumstances, many mothers and her families are facing the severe fact and choices whether to accept the baby with disabilities to each family or not. In those difficult circumstances, I would like to propose another option to provide the photos of the children and grown-ups with full of positive energy who are living in this actual society throughout the world, as one of the positive choice of theirs.
• When the first photo exhibition was held in London in 2018, there were many comments from visitors that they were able to smile and moved their heart in the UK, which is said to be highly conscious of diversity. It was sent. I received a comment from a pregnant woman who was waiting for the results of the prenatal diagnosis, said, “I was going to give birth to the results, but I was convinced that my encounter with this exhibition was not my mistake.”

●Purpose of Project

• A girl with Down Syndrome in Japan“Positive Energies” shall pursue and aim the changes of the people's understanding and awareness towards the people with disabilities, and try to eradicate the prejudice towards disabilities. not by just highlighting the disability itself and get sympathy, but giving hope and joy by presenting works full of positive energies of the children.
  
  
• Our fundamental purpose of this project is based upon the Act 8 of UNCRPD(United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities) Awareness-raising, which is “To raise awareness throughout society, including at the family level, regarding persons with disabilities, and to foster respect for the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities.”

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Click here for the Artwork.

　　
　　

Photographic Exhibition “Positive Energies” Project Executive Committee

Board Menbers

Kimiko Kamihara (Chairperson) :
Toyama Branch Chief of JDS: Japan Down Syndrome Society,
Former Director of Japan Down Syndrome Society

Yoshimasa Ikeuchi


Fumio Nabata

Norio Mizoguchi

Kayoko Suzuki

Naomi Suganuma


Advisors
Prof. Osamu Nagase :
Eminent Research Professor at Institute of Ars Vivendi, Ritsumeikan University.
Chair of Membership Committee and Officer of Inclusion International.

Special Advisors
Prof. Toshiyuki Niwa :
Visiting Professor of Kansei Gwakuin University SGU,
Former Deputy Executive Director of UNICEF
Former Assistant Secretary General of UN and UNDP

Secretariat
In the Fumio Nabata Photographic Office,
2-2-3-204, Satsukigaoka, Ikeda-shi, Osaka-fu, 563-0029 Japan Tel/Fax: +81-72-752-8280

• Photographer Fumio Nabata, from an accidental encounter with a disability support activist in the UK in 2013, was blessed with the opportunity to photograph a child with Down syndrome and realized that they had very strong positive energies.
  
  The image of people with disabilities of “poor” and “unhappy” that I had until then changed completely. I felt that, rather than pitiful, there was too much power and I could get energetic.
  At the same time, little is known about its energy, and by saying “Having a disability"
  I felt very uncomfortable with the psychological barriers in society.
• 
  The desire to change the image of people with disabilities by conveying the positive energy of these children has led to the launch of a project to develop a photo exhibition around the world. In addition, the photo exhibition is held in the UK with a high awareness of diversity, and it is important for people with disabilities to take it back to Japan after receiving an evaluation. I thought it was the most effective way to do a photo exhibition.
• 
  And in 2004, by meeting with Mr. Richard Bailey, a photographer and a leader of the photo exhibition “Shifting Perspectives” at the exhibition venue that was held in 2014 at the ITOCHU Gallery in Tokyo, it led to collaboration. Group member Fiona Yaron Field also joined and held a London exhibition in 2018. It was highly evaluated by many visitors in the UK, which is said to have a high awareness of diversity.
  

Encounter with Mr. David Tawell, a advocacy activist for the people with disabilities (London in 2013)Photo shooting of a girl with Down syndrome (Kyoto in 2014)The first meeting with a British photographer Mr. Richard Bailey.（Tokyo in 2014）Collaboration with Richard Bailey came to adecision.（London in 2014）

Photo Shooting in U.K (Bath in 2014)iiting Myanmar Down Syndrome Society (Yangon in 2016)Visiting Down Syndrome South Africa (Pretoria in Sep, 2017)I had a meeting with Mr. Richard Bailey (left) Ms. Fiona Yaron-Field (middle) with whom I collaborates. (London in Sep 2017

Coverage of Kansai TV “NEWS Runner” (Kyoto in 2018)Symposium: "Positive Energies" Pre-event ～Toward the Society where to live together～“ (Osaka in 2018)1st Photographic Exhibition “Positive Energies” (London in 2018)Symposium: Social inclusion of children with disabilities. (London in 2018)

We will hold a photo exhibition at the United Nations Headquarters (NY).
On the International Day “The World Down Syndrome Day (March 21)”,
we will make this exhibition at the United Nations
as a catalyst to spread this work throughout the world.
　　
●Photographic Exhibition “Positive Energies” 2020 at United Nations Headquarters.
●Organizer : Photographic Exhibition “Positive Energies” project Executive Committee.
●Co-Organizer : The Permanent Mission of Japan to the United Nations
●Venue & Data：UN General Assembly Building B1F Exhibition Area. 16th to 27th March 2020

　　

　Fumio Nabata Richard Bailey Fiona Yaron-Fieald
16th to 21st May 2018　Oxo Gallery

Gallery@OXO website
Oxo Tower Wharf, Bargehouse Street, South Bank, London SE1 9PH
It is scheduled to be held from 16th to 21st May 2018

Embassy of Japan in the UK The Japan Society in the UK
　　
Japan Down Syndrome Society Down's Syndrome Association (UK)

Myanmar Down Syndrome Association Down Syndrome South Africa

Smart Inclusion Innovation Consortium

The Daiwa Anglo-Japanese Foundation The Great Britain Sasakawa Foundation

NPO Osaka US Club