[Held on Saturday, January 18] Ochimizu Yosuke Lecture: “A Chance to Turn ‘I Want to Try!’ into Reality”～Let’s Think About What ‘True Happiness’ Means with Ochimizu, Who Has PLS, a Rare Disease Affecting One in a Million People!

“Because my children are young,” “because I have a disability,” “because I’m a little busy”……
Have you ever given up on going out, or felt that the days are just passing by somehow?

A talk that people like this especially should come and hear will be held on Saturday, January 18, 2025, at Mabi Fureai Center in Mabi.

Its title is “Listen, Feel, and Take Action: Let’s Create Opportunities to Turn ‘I Want to Try!’ into Reality, Build Connections, and Change the Future.”

We spoke with the event’s organizer, Nagao Yuko, who says she herself changed after meeting this event’s speaker, Ochimizu Yosuke.

About Ochimizu Yosuke

Ochimizu Yosuke was born in 1982 in Kitakyushu City, Fukuoka Prefecture.

He played soccer from early childhood and, as an elementary school student, played on the Kitakyushu City select team alongside former Japan national team forward Yoshito Okubo.
He worked in sales and product development at a cosmetics manufacturer, but in 2013 developed primary lateral sclerosis (hereafter, “PLS”), a rare disease that affects one in a million people. PLS is one of the designated intractable diseases. It gradually causes the body, limbs, and mouth to stop moving, eventually leaving the person bedridden.

In 2021, Ochimizu established PLS Inc. and has been actively working toward “creating places where everyone can live more easily,” including giving more than 100 talks a year across Japan.

A talk by Ochimizu was also held at Kurashiki Community Center in May this year (2024).

Ochimizu Yosuke and Miyoshi Tatsuya Talk: “Never Give Up on Your Challenges—A Five-Year Dream and What Comes Next” (held May 25, 2024)—The World You Can See Because You Became a Wheelchair User Due to a Disability Acquired Later in Life

If illness or an accident suddenly meant you had to use a wheelchair tomorrow, could you keep taking on new challenges with a positive attitude? Two people who became wheelchair users partway through their lives due to illness and accidents…

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About Ochimizu Yosuke’s Talk, “Let’s Create Opportunities to Turn ‘I Want to Try!’ into Reality”

Ochimizu’s talk will be held on Saturday, January 18, 2025, at the Take Hall in Mabi Fureai Center, located in Mabi, Kurashiki City. The title is “Listen, Feel, and Take Action: Let’s Create Opportunities to Turn ‘I Want to Try!’ into Reality, Build Connections, and Change the Future.”

The event details are as follows.

The talk will begin with Ochimizu speaking into a single microphone, without slides or handouts. In the second half, Ochimizu and five guests are scheduled to have a discussion about “life.”

Interview with the Event’s Organizer, Nagao Yuko

The organizer of Ochimizu Yosuke’s talk is Nagao Yuko, who, like Ochimizu, uses a wheelchair. We asked Nagao about how the event came about and what she hopes to achieve with it.

What inspired you to plan Ochimizu Yosuke’s talk?

Nagao (surname only)

When Ochimizu gave a talk at Kurashiki Community Center in May, I listened as just one member of the audience. I was drawn in by the way he spoke into a single microphone, without any slides or handouts.

Each of the things he said then, such as “Positivity is a skill!” and “Choose what fulfills your heart,” really sank in. I then thought about what I wanted to do now, having suffered a serious illness called a spinal cord tumor two years ago. As a result, I started a voluntary group called “Manaty no Wa”.

“Manaty no Wa” began its activities after we were selected for a project that gave me the precious experience of going into a pool with my child for the first time as a wheelchair user. I now work with the hope of providing opportunities for everyone to enjoy swimming, as well as holding events and talks that anyone can take part in.

This talk is the first public event organized by “Manaty no Wa.” I wanted to share Ochimizu and his words with as many people as possible, because he moved me and inspired me to take action. That’s why I planned this event.

I heard that you and Ochimizu have something in common.

Nagao

That’s right. Ochimizu and I both became wheelchair users due to illness, acquiring disabilities partway through our lives. And, amazingly, we even share the same birthday. We also both like alcohol (laughs).

Why did you choose the Take Hall at Mabi Fureai Center as the venue?

Nagao

This talk is being held as a selected project under the Idea (Citizen-Led Planning) Public Call for Proposals offered by Mabi Fureai Center.

The Take Hall at Mabi Fureai Center is a large hall that can accommodate 976 people. Wheelchair users and people with strollers can enter the venue, and private rooms are available for those who find surrounding noise or large crowds difficult.

Since both Ochimizu and I use wheelchairs, we chose the Take Hall with the expectation that people in similar situations would attend.

There are thoughtful accommodations for people with disability certificates and those attending with children.

Nagao

We made admission free for people with disability certificates and one accompanying person because we hope this talk will be a reason to go out.

Since becoming a wheelchair user myself, I’ve realized that some people with disabilities feel anxious about going somewhere for the first time, or give up on going out because of the financial burden. This time, we’ve set up a flat area where many wheelchair users can sit, as well as private seating, so people with disabilities or other needs can attend more easily. We also made admission free for people with disability certificates because we wanted to reduce the financial burden.

Since the speaker, Ochimizu, uses a wheelchair, we expect many attendees with disabilities. People with disabilities don’t often get the chance to meet face-to-face, so it would be wonderful if this could be an opportunity to connect.

I’m also raising a child while using a wheelchair. Sometimes, when there’s a talk I want to attend on a day off, I bring my child along. When I’ve done that, my child has wanted to go to the bathroom or gotten bored and left partway through. When that happens, I feel bad, wondering if we’re disturbing the people around us.

But I think it’s important to provide opportunities for parents to attend talks they’re interested in. So, to make it easier for parents with young children to come, we’ve made a flat area where they can enter with strollers and seats near the doors at the back available as parent-and-child seating.

Also, Okayama’s local hero, “Otogi Senki Momosaber,” will be at the venue on the day. Aeon Fantasy, which previously helped me with a project to go swimming with my child, will also provide gifts such as sticker books (things children can enjoy during the talk) for children in elementary school and younger. I’d be happy if these could also encourage people to attend.

What would you like attendees to take away from this talk?

Nagao

Just as listening to Ochimizu helped me become more positive and turn what I wanted to do into reality, I hope everyone who attends will feel the same way.

In that sense, I don’t want people to leave thinking only, “I’m glad I got to hear an amazing person speak.” I hope they’ll attend this talk, think about “What is the thing I most want to do right now?” and take at least one action.

The second half of the talk will include a roundtable discussion so that people can relate its content more personally, regardless of whether they have a disability or how old they are.

Five people of different ages and genders, including an 11-year-old, are scheduled to take part in the discussion and talk about their dreams and lives. I hope having people from a range of generations speak will help attendees relate the talk more personally.

Finally, do you have a message for our readers?

Nagao

Ochimizu is from Kitakyushu, and he appears on YouTube and in the media, so there are opportunities to hear him speak even without meeting him in person. But I’d like people to come and meet him in person, and experience his expressions and the seriousness in his eyes as he speaks.

It may be difficult to take action immediately after hearing a talk, but even one thing that stays with you can help make tomorrow or the future better.

That’s why I hope you’ll come to the venue and meet Ochimizu in person. We look forward to seeing you there.

From the Writer

I first met Nagao at Ochimizu’s talk held at Kurashiki Community Center in May.

I have a hearing disability, and Nagao has a physical disability; we each have a physical disability certificate. However, because our disabilities are different, we don’t often meet other people with physical disability certificates in our daily lives.

But I remember being surprised to see people with a variety of disabilities at the May talk, thinking, “So many people with physical disabilities gather in Kurashiki,” and connecting with them.

I was also struck by the fact that most of the attendees did not have physical disabilities. Regardless of whether they had a disability, many people were probably moved by Ochimizu’s words and seriously considered “what they wanted to do.”

“Let’s Create Opportunities to Turn ‘I Want to Try!’ into Reality” is an event being held soon after the start of 2025. Why not attend Ochimizu’s talk as an opportunity to think about what kind of year you want 2025 to be?

Ochimizu Yosuke’s Talk, “Let’s Create Opportunities to Turn ‘I Want to Try!’ into Reality” Information

Name	Ochimizu Yosuke Talk: “Let’s Create Opportunities to Turn ‘I Want to Try!’ into Reality”
Date	Saturday, January 18, 2025, 1:30 p.m.–3:30 p.m. (doors open at 1:00 p.m.)
Location	40-1 Yata, Mabi, Kurashiki City
Admission (tax included)	1,000 yen (Free for high school students and younger, people with disability certificates, and up to one accompanying person)
Website	Official Facebook page

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