{ "id": 214, "date": "2026-03-30T15:45:07", "date_gmt": "2026-03-30T06:45:07", "guid": { "rendered": "https:\/\/medandpeople.com\/?p=214" }, "modified": "2026-04-17T17:28:41", "modified_gmt": "2026-04-17T08:28:41", "slug": "ogisuyoko", "status": "publish", "type": "post", "link": "https:\/\/medandpeople.com\/en\/?p=214", "title": { "rendered": "Time Outside the Examination Room" }, "content": { "rendered": "

Yoko Ogisu<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Board Member of an Organization Supporting Children with Serious Illnesses<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A Place Where Children with Serious Illnesses Come to Spend Time<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Yoko Ogisu(left)
At Aozora Republic in Hakushu, Yamanashi Prefecture<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The plece is located in Hakushu, Yamanashi Prefecture, famous for its whiskey production.
The water of the nearby Jing\u016b River is astonishingly clear, and clouds drift just above the peaks of the Yatsugatake Mountains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the vast 10,000-square-meter grounds stand five wooden lodges.

Children with rare diseases or disabilities, along with their families, come to \u201cAozora Republic.\u201d
The children play in the plaza surrounded by trees,
while their families spend quiet time nearby.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A Life Dedicated to Children<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Yoko Ogisu is a board member of the National Network for Supporting Children with Serious Illnesses, a certified NPO that operates this facility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After graduating from college, she worked as an elementary school teacher.
Once she had finished raising her own children and caring for her parents, and finally had some time to herself, she began volunteering with children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She earned her \u201cToy Consultant\u201d certification at the Tokyo Toy Museum, and as she interacted with children, she began to get involved in supporting sick children as well.\nPlaying with Children with Serious Illnesses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Playing with Children with Serious Illnesses<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

She still remembers the day she first went to volunteer with sick children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat child didn\u2019t have hands. I had brought some toys, but I was at a loss as to how to play with a child who had no hands.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, seemingly oblivious to my concerns, the child began playing happily with the toys using a spoon held in his mouth.
Before I knew it, we had been playing for nearly an hour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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