Research Policy
The Department of Social Rehabilitation contributes to the independence, the promotion of social participation, the improvement of QOL and ensuring safety of persons with disabilities and is conducting research on social systems, information communication technology and views on disability and persons with disabilities in society for the purpose of contributing to the accumulation of scientific knowledge, policy planning and human resource development through the interdisciplinary efforts of social sciences / behavioral science / information science. (Established in November 1986)
Research unit
(April 1, 2023)
Acting Director - Satoshi Fukata
Senior Researcher - Kenji Gasawa, Ph.D. (Economics)
Research Fellow - Yufuko Takashima, Ph.D. (Linguistics)
Research Fellow - Tomo Odajima, Ph.D. (Social Welfare)
Psychological Experiment Section
Section Chief - Kai Seino, Ph.D. (Social Welfare / Psychology)
Disability Support Services Data Analytics Section
Section Chief - Kumiko Imahashi, Ph.D. (Health Science)
Researcher - Takashi Saito , Ph.D. (Gerontology)
Research Subject
Research and development of information systems and psychological or social techniques to support independence and social participation of persons with disabilities
- Study on support system maintenance for persons with disabilities having difficulties using existing services (2018-2019)
Firstly, as a physical factor, population in various areas that provide all kinds of disability welfare services was calculated to obtain the population cover rate of all the 47 prefectures in Japan.
Next, our focus was shifted to employment among persons with disabilities and then a survey was implemented, teaching materials were developed and a workshop was held in cooperation with a number of institutions to examine psychosociological issues.
- Estimation of demand for assistance dogs for persons with physical disabilities (2019-2020)
- Prevention and solutions for poverty and social exclusion among persons with disabilities (2016-2020)
- Clothes for persons with disabilities
- Vocational rehabilitation
- ICT for disability welfare
Study on organizing a sustainable disability welfare system
- Research on the construction of items in the prosthetic device grant provision system and the nature of standard price setting
Our research mainly consists of following two parts: (1) the creation of a functioning classification of prosthetic device grants and module parts for them and (2) the production of evidential data on surveys targeting supply companies for public pricing on prosthetic device grants. Through our research, we aim to provide information on the Prosthetic Device Grant System to all stakeholders: users, suppliers, people who provide support, medical professionals and government staff, and to contribute to the sustainable supply of devices with necessary and sufficient specifications for the users, and to their social participation and independence.
Samples of prosthetic devices:
Artificial leg / Seating system
- Studies on the certification criteria for physical disabilities and disability statistics (2017-2019
- Studies on the certification criteria for physical disabilities (2014-2016)
- Studies on current trends in disability statistics (2014-2016)
- Comparison of welfare systems for elderly persons with disabilities: independence support benefits for persons with disabilities and long-term care insurance (2017-2019)
Presentations/Publications (English only)
Seino, K., Enomoto, Y. Issues for persons with disabilities in Japan to achieve SDGs: Poverty, employment, and education using national survey, The 18th Science Council of Asia Conference Abstract & Full papers. Tokyo, Japan. 2018. pp.1-6.
Contact Information
Department of Social Rehabilitation
Research Institute
National Rehabilitation Center for Persons with Disabilities
- Address: 4-1 Namiki, Tokorozawa, Saitama 359-8555, Japan
- Phone: +81-4-2995-3100
- Fax: +81-4-2995-3132