A photo exhibition featuring works by domestic violence victims or people recovering from drug addiction opened Tuesday in Tokyo's Shibuya district.
The photos were taken during a monthly workshop at Tokyo's Tsuda College, during which participants with various difficulties, including children, engaged in activities of self-expression together with supporters and college students.
"The participants don't know each other's background, and nor do the students, who support this program as volunteers," said Kaori Sakagami, associate professor at Tsuda. "We are not providing therapy, but we hope the participants can regain their self-respect by expressing something, as currently through photographs."
The Center for Media, Culture and Collaborative Learning at Tsuda launched the program in 2009, together with four private organizations supporting victims of domestic violence, people dependent on drugs and children who refuse to go to school.
In the current program, around 60 people, including the students and supporters, took photographs and videos.