The founder of a Tokyo organization created to give work to the disabled has seen her goal of exhibiting crafts at the United Nations come to fruition and hopes global leaders will see it as an example of what such artists are capable of accomplishing.
"It has always been my dream to be involved with disabled people internationally and it has always been my dream to be here at the United Nations presenting what we do," Mutsuko Takenouchi, founder of Aikobo Group, said at a recent reception.
Aikobo was established in 1983 under Takenouchi's guidance to provide the physically and mentally challenged a chance to learn traditional Japanese crafts such as indigo dyeing, quilting, weaving, silk braiding and pottery. Beyond selling their wares, the idea was to provide them opportunities to live more independently.