“Mutual” Action of Disabled and Able-bodied People in JapaneseDisability Movements

The Case Study of Wappa-no-kai

Abstract

　This paper aims to clarify why the “mutual” action of disabled and able-bodied

people in disability movements was possible by focusing on the movement

of Wappa-no-kai（ Wappa） in the 1970s.

　The studies of Japanese disability movements have predominantly focused on

the movements acted since the 1970s by disabled people. The story in these

movements was that they achieved liberation by themselves. However, the studies

do not focus on how disabled and able-bodied people build relationships

and overlook other movements acted by both mutually as stakeholders. This article

focuses on one of the movements of Wappa that started in 1971. Both the

disabled and able-bodied members of Wappa try co-living and co-working with

a sense of fellowship.

　The results show that Friends International Work Camp （FIWC） effects Wappa’s

way of action. Wappa was started by members of FIWC, which was one of

the volunteer groups of students. Its characteristic is that members stay in the

place and help for some period; during this period, they communicate with the

people living there and understand social problems with real feeling. Members

of Wappa also felt “moral shock” by joining FIWC in a nursing home for disabled

people. They established Wappa by initiating the effort of co-living and

later co-working. It took over the way of FIWC, investigated social problems,

and tried to change the relationship with disabled people reflexively through

their efforts. Their efforts of co-living and co-working were more than usual volunteer

work because the members devoted all their life to it. It gave them the

confidence to be stakeholders regardless of whether they had a disability or not,

and accordingly, makes Wappa’s way of action “mutual”.