Japan Reuse System Co., Ltd.
Following the mini version of “Used Vaccine”, the regular version is also designed by Shigeto Yamashita, an artist with progressive muscular dystrophy. Supporting artistic activities of people with disabilities
The design will be changed gradually from December 2023.
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Japan Reuse System Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo, Representative Director: Masato Yamada) collaborates with the Art Association for People with Disabilities (Headquarters Secretariat: Iruma City, Saitama Prefecture, Representative Director: Toyotoshi Kumamoto). We support the artistic activities of artists with disabilities who want to be active on the stage. Following on from the sustainable clothing tidying product “Mini Edition Used Clothes De Vaccine,” we have also adopted the design of Shigeto Yamashita, an artist with progressive muscular dystrophy, for the “Regular Edition Used Clothes De Vaccine.”
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“Used Clothes and Vaccines” won the Special Award at the 3rd Japan SDGs Awards sponsored by the Japanese government, and through the tidying up of clothing, contributes to solving various social issues such as decarbonization, supporting children’s vaccinations, and supporting the independence of people with disabilities. We aim to create a sustainable society. As part of our efforts to create a society in which people with disabilities can utilize their unique characteristics and play an active role, starting in the spring of 2022, we will collaborate with the Arts Association for People with Disabilities to make clothing collection bags used in used clothing de-vaccines. We design works by artists with disabilities. By paying copyright fees based on the number of used clothes de-vaccines sold, we support artists with disabilities who aim to be active on the world stage.
In January 2023, we held a contest in conjunction with the release of the “Mini Edition Used Clothing De Vaccine,” and selected the work “Sunflower” by Shigeto Yamashita, an artist with progressive muscular dystrophy, as the design for clothing collection bags. In order to further support Shigeto Yamashita’s artistic activities, we have decided to design “Sunflower” on the clothing collection bag of “Regular Edition Used Clothes de Vaccine”.
Below is a comment from Shigeto Yamashita.
■About “Sunflower”
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This work was created with the theme of the world being one through sunflowers, a flower that everyone has a connection to. The petals represent “people” and the tubular flower (the black part in the center) represents “earth.” Additionally, the sparse size and shape of each sunflower is meant to represent diversity, and suggests that when they come together, a rich sunflower with a sense of life will be completed. Furthermore, we created a bright and colorful work that incorporates the following elements: diversity = the philosophy of not leaving anyone behind, a sense of life = saving lives with vaccines, and abundance = making everyone involved happy.
■From the supported side to the supported side
I have always been the person receiving support. However, through the use of second-hand vaccines, I have been able to see from the perspective of a supporter that there are still many people in the world who are facing difficulties. Looking at the situation on the ground, seeing the smiles of the children and people facing hardship, I truly feel that this support is steadily working.
■Reactions to being involved in “second-hand clothes de-vaccine” Most of the people around me are involved in the medical, nursing care, and education fields, and everyone understands my situation very well, so I am all the more moved by the significance of participating in this initiative, and am looking forward to future developments. is also expected. I believe that using second-hand vaccines gives the people who support my life a sense of pride and gives them energy for their work.
■Thoughts that by adopting the “regular version” the work will reach even more people
My work is nothing more than something created on a single computer in a small room. However, the fact that so many people are using it makes me really glad that I did not give up and continued my creative activities until now. Also, being involved in the second-hand clothing de-vaccine initiative has actually opened up new visions of dreams. I will continue to believe in my potential and engage in social contribution activities.
■Message to everyone
I believe that distributing vaccines from used clothing is a wonderful social contribution activity that transcends countries, regions, and positions. I would be happy if you could participate and take advantage of nature, just as we normally breathe and live
unconsciously.
■About the disabled artist Shigeto Yamashita
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Born in Miyazaki Prefecture in 1973. Lives in Miyagi Prefecture. He developed progressive muscular dystrophy in childhood and has been using a ventilator since 1999. Currently, I am working from home at an IT company, working hard at a communications university, and doing creative activities centered on CG production. He has received several awards in the past and has held five solo exhibitions. Since 2015, he has been a registered artist of the Art Association for People with Disabilities, and many of his works have been adopted by general companies.
▼Shigeto Yamashita HP: https://shigeart.net
■About used clothing de-vaccines and support for people with disabilities Used Clothes De Vaccine is an independence-supporting, donation-based cleanup product that allows you to easily and conveniently get rid of the clothes and accessories that you feel you can’t bear to throw away. Approximately 20,000 people are currently using the service every month, helping to support social contributions such as donating vaccines through the action of cleaning up.
The special collection kits delivered to customers who use used clothing de-vaccines are produced by welfare work centers across the country, leading to jobs for people with disabilities in Japan. Additionally, at the Used Clothing and Vaccine Center in Cambodia, we employ mainly people with after-effects of polio infection to work as staff to sell, sort, and export clothing and other items sent by Japanese customers. In order to ensure that no other child suffers from polio, we have set up a system in which for every item of clothing sold at retail, a polio vaccine for one child will be donated.
In 2019, we received the 3rd Japan SDGs Award “Special Award (SDGs Partnership Award)” in recognition of our efforts to support the independence of people with disabilities and our contribution to achieving the nine goals of the SDGs.
▼Used vaccine: https://furugidevaccine.etsl.jp/
■About the Used Clothes de Vaccine Magokoro Project The Used Clothes De Vaccine Magokoro Project is a plan specializing in internal SDGs activities for companies and organizations. We have designed the package in a way that makes it easy for companies and organizations to participate, and by using it, you can contribute to achieving the nine goals of the SDGs. We offer a total of 3 plans so that you can choose according to your goals and values.
In addition, as we collaborate with four non-profit welfare
organizations, including the Art Association for People with Disabilities, we will send letters of appreciation and appreciation from each organization depending on the plan. Please use this as a PR tool for your public relations activities, along with your SDGs supporter certificate.
▼Used Vaccine Magokoro Project: https://furugidevaccine.etsl.jp/btob/ ■Comments from the four social welfare organizations collaborating in the Secondhand Vaccine Magokoro Project
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https://www.nrscorp.jp/Business details: We are a “no-throw-away shop” that develops various social businesses based on the reuse industry. Based on our corporate philosophy of “Sampo Yoshi,” we currently do business with approximately 30 countries and regions, and we take things and things that are no longer needed in Japan and the world and use new perspectives and methods that are not bound by conventional wisdom. I am making full use of it under the guidance of people who believe in it.
■Contact information regarding this matter
Japan Reuse System Co., Ltd.
Person in charge: Midori Nakai
TEL: 080-4415-4905
E-mail: atr.nakai@nrscorp.jp