During the day, there are still quite a few days when the temperature exceeds 30 degrees, but as September arrives, I feel that the colors of the sunset are gradually becoming more autumn-like.
- It was too hot in summer to go to the beach...
- Because of my disability, it's hard to participate in marine activities...
For those people, I have good news.
On September 21, when the sea temperature is warm and both the water and the sandy beach are more comfortable than in the height of summer, the Okayama Inclusive Beach Fest 2025 will be held at Sami Nishikayuko Beach.
I interviewed Tomoki Fujiwara, a para-surfing athlete who has a passionate desire for the event, saying, “I want not only people with disabilities but also local residents to participate!”
Para-surfing
Surfing for people with disabilities. Fujiwara usually lives using a wheelchair.
What is Okayama Inclusive Beach Fest 2025
The Okayama Inclusive Beach Fest is an event where both people with and without disabilities can enjoy marine activities together, and it has been held every year since 2022.
In its first year (2022), it was held at Shibukawa Beach in Tamano City.
Last year (2024), it was held on Shiraishi-jima Island in the Kasaoka Islands, and in 2025, it will be held on September 21 (Sunday) from 9 AM to 3 PM at Sami Nishikayuko Beach in Kurashiki City.
The marine activities available on the day include the following three types.
- Canoeing
- SUP (Stand Up Paddleboard)
- Swimming
Mobichairs that allow entry into the water while remaining in a wheelchair and stable two-person canoes will be provided, and medical professionals and experienced instructors will support people with disabilities in marine activities.
A mat that allows smooth wheelchair movement on the sandy beach will be laid out from the perspective of para-surfing athletes, so preparations will be made for wheelchair users to easily access the beach.
Although the beach fest offers extensive support, the participation fee is free. Moreover, insurance is also provided, so compensation will be available in case of any incidents.
To enroll in the insurance, it is necessary to apply for participation via Google Form by noon on September 18 (Thursday).
For more details, please check the image below.
Interview with the Organizer
I spoke with Tomoki Fujiwara, the organizer of Okayama Inclusive Beach Fest 2025 and a para-surfing athlete.
What inspired you to start the Okayama Inclusive Beach Fest?
Fujiwara (no honorifics)
I usually do para-surfing, and I participated in the world championship held in the United States for the first time in 2017.
In the United States, no matter which beach you go to, the paths are well-maintained for easy wheelchair access from the parking lot to the beach, and lifeguards support marine activities for everyone, regardless of disability.
In Japan, there are no places with wheelchair mats laid out on the sandy beach, and many people with disabilities do not have an environment where they can easily enjoy marine activities.
I want to create an environment where people with and without disabilities can enjoy marine activities in Japan. To do that, I first wanted to improve the beach environment in Okayama Prefecture, where I live, and I planned the first Okayama Inclusive Beach Fest in 2020.
However, that year, it was canceled due to measures against the spread of COVID-19. In 2022, we held the first event at Shibukawa Beach in Tamano City.
Last year (2024), it was held on Shiraishi-jima Island in the Kasaoka Islands, and this year it will be held in Kurashiki City, which is also my hometown.
What feedback have you received from participants over the past three events?
Fujiwara
People with disabilities, especially those in wheelchairs, rarely consider the beach as an outing option. It is difficult for them to approach the beach in a wheelchair, so they often give up from the start.
I am very happy to see many individuals and their families discovering the joy of marine activities for the first time through the event.
Recently, research has been progressing on thalassotherapy (marine therapy), which utilizes the blessings of the sea, particularly in the Mediterranean region, and there are a certain number of individuals with intellectual disabilities for whom it is effective. I want people with disabilities to enjoy marine activities as well.
However, if someone has never entered the sea, they cannot determine whether such therapy would be effective for them. Therefore, I believe it is necessary to provide opportunities for people with disabilities to go to the sea.
I hope the Okayama Inclusive Beach Fest will serve as an opportunity for people to go to the sea.
Does "inclusive" mean that people without disabilities can participate as well?
Fujiwara
Of course!
I want people without disabilities to come to this event.
Even last year, there were many participants not only from the disabled community but also their families and friends. This year, we already have applications from people without disabilities.
I am a person with a physical disability who uses a wheelchair, but I don't particularly like being around only people with disabilities. People without disabilities simply do not know how to interact with those with disabilities, but when they actually engage with me, they are often surprised, saying, "I can do this!" and realize, "I can't do this!" and provide support in a subtle way.
We also hope that in the near future, it will become normal to see people with disabilities enjoying marine activities.
To achieve that, it is necessary for local residents who regularly use the beach and those who manage the beach to see and understand that people with disabilities can enjoy marine activities. Therefore, we planned an event that is not just for people with disabilities to enjoy, but one that can be enjoyed together with those without disabilities.
Canoeing and SUP can be experienced by people without disabilities as well, and of course, they can also enroll in the insurance, so please join us.
What kind of day do you want participants to have?
Fujiwara
Sami Beach is accessible by private car, and there is no fixed schedule this year. So, I want everyone to enjoy marine activities in their own way.
I want people with disabilities to first experience entering the sea, and for those without disabilities, I hope they will have the experience of seeing people with disabilities enjoying marine activities while playing.
And I want those who manage the beach, such as local government officials, to understand what kind of support is needed to create an environment where people with disabilities can also enjoy marine activities.
I hope that the Okayama Inclusive Beach Fest 2025 will be a starting point for the local Kurashiki beach to become a beach that can be enjoyed regardless of disability.
What are your future prospects?
Fujiwara
First of all, I want to travel to various beaches in Okayama Prefecture and promote inclusive beach environments.
I hope that the beaches that have experienced the Inclusive Beach Fest will gradually become enjoyable for people with disabilities as well.
Of course, if necessary, we will also cooperate in creating that environment.
I hope that our event will serve as a catalyst for changing the beach environment.
Please say a word to the readers.
Fujiwara
The sea temperature is similar to that of 1-2 months ago, so although it is slightly cooler than in July when the beach opens, the water is warm and the environment is suitable for enjoying swimming.
I invite both people with and without disabilities to come and enjoy marine activities.
We look forward to your participation.
Conclusion
I participated in the Okayama Inclusive Beach Fest held last year on Shiraishi-jima Island.
At first, I saw people with disabilities and their families hesitantly touching the seawater, but by the afternoon, I saw many of them floating in the sea in amphibious wheelchairs.
That was not all. It was particularly impressive to see families of people with disabilities enjoying marine activities to the fullest alongside volunteers.
At events targeting people with disabilities, accompanying family members often have to focus on assistance and cannot enjoy themselves, but this event is supported by medical professionals and experienced instructors, so they can be entrusted with care.
Why not experience the first step towards making Kurashiki's beach inclusive at the Okayama Inclusive Beach Fest 2025, which also serves as a farewell to the swimming season?
Data on Okayama Inclusive Beach Fest 2025
| Name | Okayama Inclusive Beach Fest 2025 |
|---|---|
| Date | September 21, 2025 (Sunday) |
| Location | Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture, Tamashima Kurozaki |
| Participation Fee (including tax) | Both participation and experience fees are free |
| Website | Okayama Universal Beach Project |
