The “VISI-ONE Innovation Hub Conference 2025” took place on 19th May at the Umekita SHIP Hall in Osaka City, bringing together approximately 35 attendees. This conference marked the inaugural event hosted by the VISI-ONE Innovation Hub, which was established in September 2024.
Currently, it’s estimated that around 2.2 billion people across the globe live with visual impairments. This conference featured speakers from diverse fields, including individuals personally affected by visual challenges both at home and abroad, technology venture executives, companies involved in para-sports, and a brain science researcher. They discussed the current state of visual challenges and future initiatives aimed at resolving them.
Session Themes and Speakers:
“Questioning business success in social business initiatives.”
Seiichiro Nambu (CEO, ViXion Inc.)
Interviewer: Ikuo Ogawa (Skylight Consulting Inc.)
Following Mr. Nambu’s presentation, Mr. Ogawa conducted an interview, posing questions for Mr. Nambu to answer.
“Questioning how technological advances have changed the visual challenge parties”
Masafumi Nakane (Representative, Japan Blind ICT Network)
Kazuki Kawamoto (Representative, WillShine LLC)
Moderator: Mohamed Abdin (Leader, Core Principles and CSV Promotion Department, Santen Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.)
“Questioning corporate change in relation to disabled sports.”
Toshiki Habutsu (President of Skylight Consulting Inc.)
Shigeo Hasegawa (Director, Head of Core Principles and CSV Promotion Department, Santen Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd)
Moderator: Tetsuro Hayashi (Marketing Director, Beside Japan Ltd.)
“Re-evaluating Visual Challenges from a Global Perspective”
Joseph Seyena-Susu (President, Ghana Blind Union)
Natale Antonel (Head of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Transportation Safety Board of Argentina)
Mohamed Abdin
This session was conducted by projecting pre-recorded videos.
“Questioning the spread of “visual challenges” through scientific developments.”
Eiichi Naito (Principal Investigator, National Institute of Information and Communication Technology, Center for Information and Neural Networks)
Interviewer: Eigo Matsuzaki (Representative Director, IBF Foundation)
Following Mr. Naito’s presentation, Mr. Matsuzaki served as the interviewer, leading the session.
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During each session, participants actively posed questions, leading to lively exchanges of opinions.
Participant Feedback:
“The conference started from sports and broadened to address the challenges of visual impairment from all angles.”
“I appreciate the fresh and extensive information covering a wide range of themes, including corporate philosophies, concrete information on the vision and possibilities of para-sports, and stories from those directly affected. The presentation from a neuroscience perspective was also straightforward and very interesting.”
Post-Conference Match Viewing:
After the conference, attendees had the opportunity to deepen their interactions whilst watching the “IBSA Blind Football World Grand Prix 2025 in Umekita (Women’s Category),” which was held in the Umekita Plaza adjacent to the venue at Grand Front Osaka.
