2024-03-16 09:30:00
On the 21st, World Down Syndrome Day, Aoi Yoshida (17) from Tokyo, who has Down syndrome, will give a speech at a meeting of the World Down Syndrome Federation held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, USA. With the support of those around her, she has developed what she is good at and is also active as an actor. “I want to tell people with Down syndrome around the world that they can do whatever they want, even if they’re nervous or embarrassed.” (Masaki Nakamura)
world down syndrome dayThe United Nations designated March 21 as Awareness Day in 2012 because many people with Down syndrome have three copies of the 21st chromosome. The World Down Syndrome Federation, headquartered in London, UK, is calling for awareness-raising events to be held around the world. According to the Japan Down Syndrome Association, Japanese people with Down syndrome who have given speeches at World Down Syndrome Day conferences include calligrapher Shoko Kanazawa.
◆Koji Yakusho also appeared in the Academy Award winning movie
Aoi Yoshida (left) and her mother Sachiko express their enthusiasm for the speech in Tokyo.
Aoi is a second year high school student at a metropolitan special needs school. She has devoted herself to modern ballet and conducting choirs. In addition to appearing in the currently released movie “PERFECT DAYS” starring Koji Yakusho and nominated for an Academy Award, she also appeared in the 2023 NHKBS premium drama “I didn’t love you because I was family, I loved you because I was family.” He was chosen to play the role of the main character’s younger brother.
Aoi learned that she had Down syndrome when she was in the fifth grade of elementary school and attending a special needs class. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t take first place in the foot race at the sports day, so she asked her mother, Sachiko (53), “Why?”
“Because I have Down syndrome, my muscles are weak and I can’t run at breakneck speeds,” Sachiko says. She continued: She said, “Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses. Aoi can do ballet and conduct. I think she should try her best at those.” Aoi said that she didn’t seem depressed and said, “That’s right,” she seemed satisfied.
◆”You can do it if you don’t give up and keep your passion”
Aoi Yoshida expresses her enthusiasm for her speech
Her role in the drama came about when she was invited to participate in an audition by those around her. There are many things she is doing for the first time, such as memorizing lines and acting while speaking. She has a “visually dominant” characteristic that allows her to easily process information from her eyes, so I had her acting methods written down in bullet points so I could keep them in mind. They practiced at her home and in their free time, and Sachiko recalls, “Watching her never give up and keep trying, she wondered many times if she could do it herself.”
The speech will be in English and Japanese, and he will discuss the conference’s theme of “Health Equity” with Jason Hancock, an actor and talent based in Japan. He has a chronic heart disease and often falls ill, but he took care of his health during the filming of the drama and never caught a cold. He proudly says, “It’s the perfect theme for me.”
Until now, the meeting has been held at the United Nations Headquarters, but this year, due to management reasons, it will be held at a different venue on the 21st, when Aoi will be on stage. However, she is excited about the stage of her dreams. “People with Down syndrome come to the venue from all over the world. They want to be friends. They want to party. They want to see everyone’s smiles.”
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