[I-Mate Association Public Interest Incorporated Foundation] Future soccer players also say “Thank you!”
Imate Association Public Interest Incorporated Foundation Press release: November 12, 2024 Future soccer players also say “Thank you!” Experience walking with an Eyemate (guide dog) at “Wonder Nyando” hosted by Kawasaki Frontale Eyemate Association (Representative Director: Takao Shioya,
https://www.eyemate.org/
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/44231/28/44231-28-537f9833ff9327b8dd5993f8ab7c473d-2976×1984.jpg ■Thank you to Eyemate (guide dog) who walked with me! At the awareness booth, we talked about the problems that EyeMate users and visually impaired people face, how they can immediately implement support methods such as calling out to them, and how some people can be helped by doing so. A total of 70 people, from adults to children, including children who aspire to become soccer players and local residents, participated in the iMate experience walk, which was divided into two sessions, Part 1 and Part 2. Comments from those who have experienced it include, “It was scary because it was dark in front of me when I was blindfolded, but because I had Eyemate, I was able to walk without bumping into anyone,” “I was happy with how gentle Eyemate was,” and “I had to do my best because Eyemate walked with me.” After the trial walk, participants expressed their gratitude to Eyemate by saying, “Thank you!” The Eye Mate Association hopes that through this experience, support for visually impaired people walking around the city will spread throughout society.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/44231/28/44231-28-5f3c11511acac3ae56eb6f7f718d6db5-1313×1970.jpg Future soccer players took a trial walk with Eyemate
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/44231/28/44231-28-33d5b3859b4be4cebfc6395572cc8f95-1800×2700.jpg Future soccer players took a trial walk with Eyemate ■Kawasaki Frontale players also support Eye Mate awareness Those who
participated in the trial walk were selected by lottery to win Eye Mate support goods and goods provided by Kawasaki Frontale. The goods provided by Kawasaki Frontale were autographed by the players. Image
URL: https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/44231/28/44231-28-a662c1866aa6448e8dd9e54008185c78-2194×2925.jpg Autographs from Kouhiro Takai, Ellison, Yu Kobayashi, and Yasuto Wakisaka.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/44231/28/44231-28-43d123619e46c90c3c98d3a00ed60924-2976×1984.jpg Commemorative photo on stage ■ Eye Mate Association awareness booth (photo)
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/44231/28/44231-28-3f7d2721452e35b55d6160f227c30f19-2194×2925.jpg
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/44231/28/44231-28-634f35fd0fb0d8b061e3f742fdcdd987-1984×2976.jpg
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/44231/28/44231-28-2fe87c29eb62b41cc4cb72740e908b16-2976×1984.jpg ■I-Mate will also be in the audience seats as a supporter After the awareness event ended, the iMates who had done the trial walk entered the audience seats as members of Kawasaki Frontale supporters and cheered together for Kawasaki Frontale’s victory. Despite the excitement of the supporters, the Eyemates remained calm and unfazed.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/44231/28/44231-28-4f3765f94c982079aeabf4a7b416ec44-2194×2925.jpg Eyemate also cheered from the audience seats as a member of Kawasaki Frontale supporters ■Working together with citizens and local communities FOOTBALL TOGETHER ~ Our belief of walking together with everyone We are not just a group of people who play soccer. One of the J.League’s philosophies is to “promote a rich sports culture and contribute to the healthy mental and physical development of the people.” It was hoped that it would provide opportunities for sports and serve as a base for interaction. Just as sports have become established as a culture in Europe over the course of history, we too can integrate sports into our lives by working together with citizens and local communities to overcome difficulties and accumulate achievements. We believe that a city where people can enjoy good health and the joy of life will become a reality. Citizens, players, staff, sponsors and supporters. The word “TOGETHER” embodies our club’s belief in working together with all people. (Kawasaki Frontale HP https://www.frontale.co.jp/about/club_profile_jp.html From) ■“Wonderyando” event overview ・Date: Friday, November 1, 2024 ・Time: 15:30-18:30 ・Venue: Uvance Todoroki Stadium by Fujitsu (1-1 Todoroki, Nakahara-ku, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa 211-0052) ■About Eye Mate Association The Eye Mate Association was founded by Kenichi Shioya, who bred Champy, the first domestic guide dog. In 1957, we sent out the first pair of domestic guide dogs, and in 2022 we will celebrate our 65th anniversary. The Eye Mate Association supports the
independence of visually impaired people and promotes their social participation through Eye Mate training and walking guidance for visually impaired people. In addition, the Eye Mate Association calls them “Eye Mates” rather than guide dogs, meaning “my beloved eye companions.”
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/44231/28/44231-28-2c053f615c1c0b316faf596e5ad7b96d-2048×1365.jpg Ai in Eyemate means “eye”.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/44231/28/44231-28-2837b8c0566d557e09b90b4e94e8741f-2048×1365.jpg Eyemate is an irreplaceable partner. Ai also has the meaning of “love”. ■What if you meet an Eyemate user or a visually impaired person on the street? Contents you can learn from the website We will introduce content on the association’s website where you can learn how to support EyeMate users and visually impaired people. ・”If you meet an Eyemate user” We have summarized what you should do when you meet an Eyemate user on the street and want to provide some support, how to approach the user, and how to talk to them.
https://www.eyemate.org/doc/assisting/
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/44231/28/44231-28-5a5a4f748edc2b676808eb2c1dc02bf9-1222×728.jpg ■Nurture a caring and kind heart. “Imate Children’s Site” Let’s get to know the popular website “Moudou Inu” launched in July 2020! ~ Eyemate Children’s Site ( https://www.eyemate.org/kids/ ) was created so that you can learn the correct knowledge about Eyemates (guide dogs) while having fun at home or in educational settings. Furthermore, it not only provides information about EyeMate (guide dogs), but also introduces the “inconvenience” and “inconvenience” felt by EyeMate users and the visually impaired. We hope that by thinking deeply together with adults, children will develop caring and kind hearts. (Target age: 5th grade and above of elementary school)
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/44231/28/44231-28-7ae6316989debf52bcd6aa647a422651-1390×545.jpg ■ Eye Mate Association official SNS ・Facebook (
https://www.facebook.com/Eyemate1957/ ) ・Instagram (
https://www.instagram.com/eyemate.dog/ ) ・X(
https://twitter.com/EyeMate_Dog )