on each television station. They were much different from those in the past in terms of how they were described and what the audiences' acceptance was.
The movement began from the character of leshige, son of the leading character in the year-long serialized historical drama, "Yoshimune," on NHK. leshige's disability was obviously meant to be an intellectual disability. But the program that really established this as a boom was a trendy drama, "The Minor" on TBS. This became a hot topic, partly because it was written by the talented scenario writer Shinji Nojima, and also because Shingo Katori, a member of a very popular "idol group" SMAP, played the role.
In "Pure", by the Fuji Television group, broadcast starting at 9:00 p.m. on Mondays,prime time for television programs, a popular actress, Emi Wakul, excellently played the role of a person with an intellectual disability. "Only You -- Be Loved", by the Nihon Television group, broadcast from 10:00 p.m. on Mondays, also became popular. On February 3, "When the Lantana is in Blossom" was broadcast on NHK television. The movie "A Calm Life" ("Shizuka na Seikatsu"), directed by Juzo Itami,was not popular as a movie, but is noteworthy because the author of the original story on which the movie was based is Nobelist Kenzaburo Oe, and the model for the character in the story is his son Hikaru who,although he is a person with a disability, is a composer.
It is said that the sudden appearance of persons with disabilities in dramas was greatly influenced by the success of and Academy Awards given to the American movie, "Forrest Gump". But its evaluation is divided between those who criticize this as a whitewashing, and those who accept it because it has become popular.
3. The Popularity of CDS by Hikaru Oe
Hikaru Oe is the eldest son of the writer Kenzaburo Oe; he has an intellectual disability. Music he has composed has been recorded on two COs; these two sold 200,000 copies each as of fiscal year 1995.Their titles are "Music of Hikaru Oe", and "Hikaru Oe Again". These can be considered to be big hits for classical music, where sales of 10,000 are generally regarded as a success.
The plan to record Oe's music was made by Hiroyuki Okano, the producer of Japan Columbia Record Company. He found that the music was used like illustrations in the novel by Kenzaburo Oe, "Stories of Wonder of MIT and Forest"; he was charmed by this, and decided to record them on CD's. He said, "In the time when much music is strongly self-conscious, aiming to be sold, perhaps the music of Mr. Oe,which is not restricted by self-consciousness, will give ease to his audience."
Ninety per cent of the purchasers are women in their thirties to sixties. Many comments were sent reflecting the listeners' own beliefs, such as "encouraged when I am depressed," or "relieved at the time of hospitalization." Hikaru Oe's father's winning a Nobel prize also contributed to the sales. Such a successful sale was a social event that gave us various suggestions about persons with disabilities and the arts.
4. Video Series on Welfare by the NHK Health, Welfare, and Culture Foundation
Although the intention of people with intellectual disabilities to live in their own communities and participate in society has become stronger than ever before, they do not always have models for such activity. However, for people with intellectual disability, specific images of the future are difficult to draw without models.
The NHK Health, Welfare, and Culture Foundation has been producing videotapes for people with disabilities as part of its activities of providing information. Up to now, two series have been completed and are in use. The first is "Living in the community," which includes actual examples of "how to live".
There are four tapes, consisting of (a) living with a family, (b) living in a group home, (c) living alone, and (d) living as a couple. The second series is "Talk Together"; in that series, people with disabilities talk about their feelings. There are four tapes, including (a) about school, (b) about jobs, (c) about disability,and (d) about peers.
Both series are available on loan (free) from NHK Health Welfare, and Culture Foundation, or from the
