Special Contents 2

Special Contents 2 Employing People with Disabilities Working Together with People Who Have Disabilities Society consists of those who have disabilities and those who do not. Our workplaces, we think, should reflect this reality. endeavors to have on staff one disabled person per store, and there are currently individuals with disabilities working in 90% of our stores. We believe: Accepting one another’s differences is important, and people acknowledging those around them is important.

UNIQLO Aeon Naha Store, Okinawa Rieko Uehara / Essay by Randy Taguchi 10

UNIQLO Nakamozu Store, Osaka Tetsuyoshi Yamada 13

UNIQLO Ubeshimizugawa Store, Yamaguchi Chieko Miura 14

UNIQLO Asakusa ROX Store, Tokyo Feature Essays Go 15 01 I like you the way you are By Randy Taguchi

UNIQLO’s employment of disabled persons continues to expand on a national level. UNIQLO takes pride in having a significant number of disabled people working at its stores—a number that has attracted the attention of various social welfare organizations. Author Randy Taguchi visited Okinawa to uncover the foundation for UNIQLO’s employment of people with disabilities, and here is what she discovered…

Tosato Gima remembers the first time she met Rieko Uehara. “We were of different ages and we liked different things; and although our lives were very different, there was something about her that made me want to get to know her. With a hearing impairment, she’s unable to hear what other people are saying. Despite the disability, she is so full of life. She loves to work and laughs off the little things that are often troubling to so many of us. I felt drawn to her attitude toward life, as I too have problems. A person with a disability and the other without one—yet, I wanted to find a common understanding between us.” “We are all different; you are perfect the way you are. By helping one another, we could better live together.”

What could not have been done by one person was accomplished by two. While this may sound like a dream, this story is true.

Randy Taguchi Author. Began her writing career with her first novel Concent, published by Shinchosha (2000). Her works cover various themes related to the human heart. Her latest novel is entitled Perfect Day to Live Again, published by Basilico.

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Rieko Uehara UNIQLO Aeon Naha Store, Okinawa Tosato Gima Without having experienced difficulties Hearing impairment UNIQLO Aeon Naha Store, Okinawa “I was scared of the customers at “We have had our serious quarrels, linked to disability, I know that life first, but Ms. Gima’s words gave me for instance when Ms. Uehara said challenges are something we both share courage.” ‘I can’t.’”

Upon hiring someone with a disability, she always worked at the sewing she felt anxious with the thought that Ms. Uehara had come to believe repetition. As time passed, everyone Tosato Gima was given the machine in silence to avoid standing if she was around customers, she that she belonged in the background, became skilled at sign language, Employment of Disabled People out. If Ms. Uehara continued to would in some way fail, believing she but through Ms. Gima’s willingness and Ms. Uehara was able to say to Manual and was surprised by the distance herself from the others, she could not work as effectively as the to work with her, she had been customers, “I have a hearing information it contained. Everything would not be able to apply herself as other staff members. provided with strong support. impairment.” Moreover, a communal inside the manual was on procedures. a team member. Ms. Gima was also Ms. Gima sympathized with Ms. Ms. Gima had developed a sense feeling became present throughout Without substantive guidance, she worried that Ms. Uehara would not fit Uehara, a feeling that had stemmed of discipline from her mother, who the store. felt the company was merely throwing in unless she could in some way from always seeing Ms. Uehara raised her single-handedly after her Ms. Uehara commented, “Not the new employee into the workplace. express herself. working silently in front of the sewing father passed away when she was being able to speak out about “Something is missing,” she thought. “Ms. Uehara, why don’t you get machine. She came to realize, “No young. From her upbringing, Ms. disability is the hardest thing to live Rieko Uehara, who has a hearing yourself out there?” Ms. Uehara did matter how hard Ms. Uehara works, Gima’s heart was engraved with the with.” After all, disability is a precious impairment, was the first disabled not know how to react to this she cannot rid herself of her disability. idea, “People are meant to help part of her personality. person hired at the store under the question, as she had no previous job I am the one that must change.” Ms. other people.” News that employment of a employment of disabled people experience and, at the age of forty, Gima then decided she would learn As the two women shared their disabled person in Okinawa had been policy. After starting the job, Ms. UNIQLO was her first place of work. sign language. If she could own stories, they learned about each so successful spread to other stores Uehara constantly felt anxious and She needed to make a livelihood communicate with Ms. Uehara that other’s lives. We all have problems; across the country, eventually leading timid. Ms. Gima, assuming her and was grateful to be working way, then Ms. Uehara would have an although not all of us have to the reexamination of UNIQLO’s supervisory role, was concerned during a period when the economy outlet for expressing herself. Ms. experienced difficulties linked to employment of people with disabilities about Ms. Uehara after noticing that was weak. While working, however, Gima began learning sign language disability, life’s challenges are policy. The friendship between two from Ms. Uehara during breaks and something we all share. And despite people had changed the company. also introduced one sign pattern every person being different, certain Ms. Uehara is now in her fifteenth year

Ms. Gima proposed having everyone learn one each day to the other staff members commonalities are found among all of of employment, and she and Ms. sign pattern a day during the morning meeting so in the morning meetings. us. These are what make us human. Gima are still close friends. that they could communicate with Ms. Uehara. Everyone was practicing sign The relationship between Ms. People come first. This, I language, which meant a lot to Ms. Gima and Ms. Uehara came to have discovered, is the foundation for Uehara, who felt a sense of an influence on other staff members. UNIQLO’s employment of people acceptance that gave her the People saw that even though certain with disabilities. courage to interact with those things may not be easily understood, around her. they can still be learned through

“Not being able to speak out about disability is the hardest thing.” (Ms. Uehara)

Ms. Gima and Ms. Uehara’s conversations through sign language are quite animated. Even without knowing sign language, their enjoyment in conversing with one another is obvious when you see them together.

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Seizing another day! Meet Chieko,

Tetsuyoshi Yamada the fashion lover UNIQLO Nakamozu Store, Osaka Limb apraxia Chieko Miura (left) UNIQLO Ubeshimizugawa Store, Yamaguchi Mental retardation

Tetsuyoshi Yamada’s day begins started to crumble by Yoko Jinno (right) early and with haste. Every morning around the third month of Koeikai Center for Employment and Welfare he rides his bicycle to work and his employment. Support of People with Disabilities arrives before anyone else. This is his Gradually, he moved Employment Support Representative twelfth year working for UNIQLO, from mainly backroom and people in the area have gotten jobs to a position in which used to seeing him fly through the he was in contact with “I’ve heard about the company called Welfare Support of Persons with there. After all, if you like what you do, residential area at top speed. customers. Eventually, he ‘UNIQLO’ and that working there Disabilities, where Ms. Jinno works, you can maintain a sense of positivity He used to work in a bicycle- asked the store manager requires contact with customers, so I is different in that it supports the through your work. And while manufacturing factory before joining if he could work at the don’t plan on applying.” everyday lives of applicants as well as environments around us may change, UNIQLO with the desire to interact cash register. After leaving her last job, Chieko in their search for jobs. Ms. Jinno is I knew that because she had worked directly with customers. After taking “The store manager Miura found herself looking for a new Ms. Miura’s most trusted consultant. at the same place for quite a while, on his new job, Mr. Yamada soon was very concerned at one. On the day she called Yoko Ms. Miura was very positive about giving her a framework with which found himself facing a wall of others’ first, but looking back, I Jinno at the Koeikai Center for looking for a new job. When it came she could set a work routine, she had hesitancy, separating him from the can understand why.” Employment and Welfare Support of to UNIQLO, however, her passion an extraordinary work ethic. I was staff. He could tell they were asking How did it go? Persons with Disabilities, there was waned—she was not enthusiastic certain UNIQLO was actually the right themselves, “How should I act “I was scolded badly people checked their receipts after something different in her voice. Ms. about it being a realistic option for place for her.” around him?” And even though he sometimes, but was happy paying.” Miura, having always been her. Previously employed at a food As Ms. Jinno worked with Ms. could learn all there was to know nonetheless, as UNIQLO was giving Eight out of ten people checked passionate about working, sounded processing factory, Ms. Miura did Miura at finding a job, she acquired a about store operations, he knew me the chance to see how far I could their receipts. He remembers how unlike her usual self. Ms. Jinno was not have any interaction with people strong understanding of Ms. Miura’s there was no magic pill that would go. Of course, I overcame some concerned some customers looked reluctant to say anything at first, and outside the company, and the work strengths—not just related to her help everyone to understand one hurdles and didn’t with others, but I while looking over their receipts and then she thought, hold on a minute… for the most part was repetitive. abilities, but also to her likeable another. He confronted the situation felt accepted.” walking away from the counter. And without a doubt in her mind UNIQLO’s environment would be personality, what she likes and her time and time again. The cash register is where the Work of course brings with it tough knew that “UNIQLO would be the starkly different; a place where a passions surrounding work. “Although it’s not so remarkable, most serious customer service takes moments for everybody, but with the perfect place for Ms. Miura.” wide range of customers visit daily. “Even when Ms. Miura would talk I’ve always liked speaking with place, and since money is exchanged, experience such challenges bring, The two women first met soon With this in mind, it is not surprising to me about how much trouble she people. And so I tried starting up customers pay close attention to Mr. Yamada had changed. “I had to after Ms. Miura had left a job. While that Ms. Miura felt hesitant when was having finding a job, she never conservations during breaks.” what goes on there. Mr. Yamada said accept the fact that people were regional support organizations such considering a job there. Ms. Jinno’s stopped looking fashionable.” Mr. Yamada vividly remembers he kept an account of customers’ watching me whenever I was as Hello Work and the Center for thoughts, however, were quite Ms. Miura started working for these times as difficult until the wall reactions while working as a cashier. operating a cash register or helping Employment of Persons with different. UNIQLO after a supportive push he felt surrounding him slowly “I was curious to know how many a customer,” he said. He went on to Disabilities provide their services, the “I know she loves fashion—the first from Ms. Jinno. Having always had say, “I used to feel bitter about the Koeikai Center for Employment and reason I thought she’d be happy enthusiasm for her work, Ms. Miura world and that it was full of now works with a fresh exuberance. snapshot Mr. Yamada in action at work contradiction. My attitude now is that snapshot Various duties under Ms. Miura When Ms. Jinno comes to the store if that’s the case, then what can I do to see how she is doing, Ms. Miura to turn things right-side up? Sounds speaks with energy, saying things pretty cool, don’t you think?” like, “I’d like to try altering pants next.” Ms. Jinno commented, “It’s wonderful how she can go after her dreams and set goals now. Her new environment has given her the ambition to take real steps, despite her disability. I am so glad everything has worked out for her.” Ms. Miura may not have been able Remove all clothing from boxes and sort them by color In the staffroom during break times, she speaks with 8:30 am: Opens cash registers and puts cash for 9:00 am: Removes items from cardboard boxes and and size. Then, take each item out of their plastic her colleagues not only about work, but about lunch, to go after a UNIQLO job on her own; change into each one. hangs them according to color and size. Displays bags. She carries out this process rhythmically, places she has gone on days off, and a lot of other but, with support from Ms. Jinno, her items in the store on racks. enabling her to quickly finish with each box. things. This is not how anyone would have imagined her before she had joined the company. dreams have gotten a little bigger.

13 14 Special Contents 2 04 The long road to reach The greatest issue is “not knowing” Yukiko Otsuka, CEO UNIQLO Fukushi Venture Partners Co., Ltd.

Go Suzuki UNIQLO Asakusa ROX Store, Tokyo Why is there no increase in the employment human resources. It is not solely the type of Higher cerebral dysfunction rate for disabled people? There are issues work that allows for this. The management Mayumi Suzuki, mother present in the government, private companies strategy to do the right thing in the right way and society, but the single greatest factor to raise the value of the company incorporates common between all three is “not knowing.” employment of people with disabilities and Mayumi Suzuki’s son Go Suzuki was caused concern. He Companies, the government and people in is a result of the uncompromising efforts of twenty years old when he was went to work alone in the general lack interest, which often leaves them employees at the stores. involved in an accident. He morning. But in the unaware. In Japanese society today, there The first step in employing people with miraculously survived and was out of evening, Ms. Suzuki had are special school classes in which people disabilities is to raise people’s awareness. That the hospital in a month. The doctors him text her before informed them that “there would be leaving and waited for with disabilities are not taught in the same is why I ask that UNIQLO not only continue no aftereffects of the injury,” and at him every day at the classrooms as people without disabilities. with its internal efforts but also share its first it appeared as though Mr. Suzuki nearby station for him to We also rarely have the chance to see people knowledge with other companies and society. had fully recovered. In the eyes of his return. his disability getting in the way of his with disabilities working, and the possibility of I would like to see more staff with disabilities family, however, Mr. Suzuki was It was much later when Mayumi performance. His condition now is receiving some service from them is even less at the storefront rather than in supporting roles clearly different from before the learned her son did not chat with the incredibly improved compared with common. In such a society, it may be inevitable in the back. The fact that so many people are accident. He would forget other staff members during breaks how it was when he first started conversations seconds after having for the first two years he worked working at the store. that companies and people in general are not actively involved gives courage to the families them and would have sudden bouts there, but instead went straight to Higher cerebral dysfunction was accustomed to working with the disabled, of those with disabilities as well. of anger and violence. His condition the men’s restroom after eating not known at the time of Mr. Suzuki’s and as a result do not regard them as a As people have more opportunities to interact (higher cerebral dysfunction) was lunch and remained there until the accident, and there is still little known viable workforce or as capable of working. with the disabled, the level of awareness will finally officially diagnosed more than break was over. about it. The disability is not visible, Is this true? At UNIQLO, disabled people are rise and the employment conditions of people four years and seven months after “He told me, ‘when people talk to making it difficult for people around considered fellow soldiers and invaluable with disabilities will improve. the accident. me or I have to have a conversation those suffering from the condition to When Mr. Suzuki came for an with them, it wears my brain out. My comprehend it. Ms. Suzuki now interview at UNIQLO, it was after he concentration doesn’t last the whole gives lectures in various locations to had been certified as disabled, and afternoon.’ I was so shocked when I raise awareness about higher After working for a consulting firm, he had just started making a heard this. Though, because he kept cerebral dysfunction so that people Yukiko Otsuka established her own firm in 1999. She met Masao Ogura, who recovery and functioning within going, despite making mistakes, his understand it better. The path that was the chairman of society. Mr. Suzuki’s condition was memory slowly returned.” Mr. Suzuki’s family paved together Co., Ltd. while at the time working to by no means gone. “I had to almost When Mr. Suzuki first entered the now represents a direction for those “create a workplace for people with trick him into going for the interview company, he took notes, but would with disabilities, and will serve as a disabilities by uniting social welfare with business management.” This led because he was so reluctant. The then lose them or forget that he had forum for people with and without to her establishment of Fukushi Venture first three years were extremely taken them. Now he is able to deal disabilities to learn to better Partners Co., Ltd. in 2003. difficult,” Ms. Suzuki recalled. with customers, operate the fitting understand one another—it is a path Even going to and from work rooms and do regular jobs without that will continue to grow. Challenges are fun Shingo Kunieda Professional wheelchair tennis player snapshot Mr. Suzuki during and outside of work

The only notes he takes in the morning When I started playing tennis, it seemed continue winning and gaining attention. And I are on the day’s sales target, the previous like a “girl’s sport” to me; I liked basketball want kids to have dreams of their own. Even day’s sales and the time of his lunch break. He has memorized everything better because it was featured in a popular with a disability, I want them to take up any else, including the complicated names of manga. My attitude changed when I went challenge they face. Challenges are fun and all the products. abroad to play in matches during high school sometimes scary, but how can you know and saw professional players in the game for how far you can go without trying? Stepping the first time. Their technique and intensity forward with courage is something that I gave me a charge. I remember thinking, “this believe is very important. is where I want to play one day.” Now that Asakusa is Mr. Suzuki’s hometown. Shingo Kunieda has been in a wheelchair since age nine He almost always goes out for I have become a professional, I want, more due to a spinal cord tumor. He was a singles gold medalist lunch. He became friends with a than ever, for more people to get to know at the 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games. In April 2009 he chef at the local Sushi bar he about wheelchair tennis. To spread the word, became the first Japanese professional wheelchair player. frequents and where he is greeted He signed an exclusive contract with UNIQLO in August with, “the usual?” I’d like to play in larger tournaments and 2009.

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