Akimitsu YOKOYAMA

Associate Professor,
Department of Animal Science, Teikyo University of Science.

A psychiatry specialist by training, Dr. Yokoyama graduated from the University of Occupational and Environmental Health and initially worked for the Kyosai Tachikawa Hospital and Kanagawa Prefecture Yamato City Hospital. His current post (since 2002) involves conducting research into the introduction of animals and robots for medical treatment. Previously he was the Secretary General of the Society for the Study of Human Animal Relations (HARs. He has written many works on the psychological relationship between humans and other animals and his publications include ‘What is animal therapy?’ (NKK Shuppan). His translation projects include ‘Children and Animals – Exploring the Roots of Kindness and Cruelty’ by Frank R. Ascione (Being Net Press) and ‘Why the Wild Things Are – Animals in the Lives of Children’ by Galf F. Melson (Being Net Press). He has also supervised ‘Between Pets and People’ by Alan Beck and Aaron Katcher (Pet Life)

Miyako KINOSHITA

Ms. Kinoshita took an internship to go to America in 1997 where she learned about animal assisted therapy at Green Chimneys. In 2000 she achieved certification as an advanced riding instructor for the disabled at North American Riding for the Handicapped Association (NARHA) and was placed in charge of the Horse Assisted Therapy Section. At the same time she taught horse assisted education at GC School.
From 2009, she has been working as a manager of farm educational activities, training interns and liaising between different sections. In Japan Ms. Kinoshita has given many lectures on animal assisted therapy, on methods to secure the safety of children with emotional challenges, and on crisis management. In 2010 she became the Chair of the board of directors for EFMHA and an internal regulator for NARHA and, currently, she is pursuing a masters course on early special welfare education.

Shigeki NAKAO

Associate Professor at Kansai University of International Studies, Faculty of Education, Department of Education and Social Welfare.

Shigeki Nakao graduated from Osaka Kyoiku University and, after working as a school teacher in Kobe City and as schools education supervisor at the Kobe City Board of Education, he assumed his current post in 2008.
He has conducted research on sensory movement play for abused children, children with developmental difficulties, and children with severe handicaps, using psychotherapy approaches, ‘softsign’ techniques, etc.
Dr. Nakao is a member of the ‘School Health and Psychological Problem Specialist Committee’ of the Japan Pediatric Society, an SV of the ‘Japan Academy of Learning Disabilities Special Support Educators’, and an Executive Committee member of the ‘Children’s Hospice Project’
His writings include ‘Non-special Special Support Education – Support for Assessment and Guidance to Understand Children’s Characteristics’, ‘Non-special Special Support Education – For All to be Independent of Special Support Class’, ‘Non-special Special Support Education – For Everyone To be Independent for Special Support Class’, Distance Learning Class, General Class’, ‘Non-special Special Support Education – Special Support Education from Age 0’ (Meiji Tosho). He has also co -authored ‘Theory and Practice of New Sensory Integration’ (Gakken) and ‘Sensory Integration Methods for Raising Handicapped Children’ (Nihon Bunka Kagakusha).