The Campaign

We have modified the traditional Japanese team sport tamaire, so that both MS patients can play it with others on an equal level. Playing this game with others is a form of rehabilitation for MS patients, and also a way for people to have a better understanding of MS by experiencing for themselves some simulated MS symptoms through the game.

Creative Execution

Ordinarily, the winning team in tamaire tosses the most balls in the highly-positioned basket within a set time. Our modified tamaire considers MS patients who tire easily; the basket topples over if too many balls are tossed in, resulting in a forced 30-second break. MS symptoms often a disappear and reappear in a cycle, so the forced-break allows healthy people to experience the intermittent nature of MS symptoms. We have also made tamaire safer for patients in wheelchairs, by adjusting the position of the ball toss and basket height accordingly. Around 60 people, including MS patients, joined in our tamaire event held from March to April 2016, prior to World MS Day in May. The “making-of” documentary was released in November 2016, and since then it has been widely shared on SNS by MS patients. The tamaire is still being covered widely in the media and featured in many events.

-The modified tamaire facilitates communication between MS patients and the public, while raising awareness and promoting a better understanding of MS. -The people involved in developing it are now more aware of MS. -MS patients are able to play a familiar childhood game that also benefits their rehabilitation. -MS patients have shared this project with their family and friends on SNS and increased the number of first-time attendees at patient-run talks on MS. -Our documentary was featured in Japan’s largest MS patients’ association’s website. Considering the share by SNS, reached 60% of MS patients for 20,000 MS patients in Japan. -The event was covered by 23 media including NHK and the Nikkei newspaper, reached 50,000,000? audiences. -Our modified tamaire has been featured in many TV programs and events, helping to further raise awareness of MS. -It has become the Friendly Sport for MS patients and the public.

We have modified the well-known and loved Japanese team sport tamaire, so that MS patients can play with others on an equal level. Our aim was to try to eliminate the distorted view of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, and relieve their sense of alienation in society. We worked with MS patients, specialist physicians and professionals in sports development to modify the game, and the process itself has facilitated communication and deepened mutual understanding among all parties. Moreover, images of the modified tamaire have spread across Japan, and triggered a greater concern and better understanding of MS.

First, we worked with MS patients, specialist physicians and professionals in sports development to modify tamaire and eliminate the sense of alienation felt by MS patients. This process facilitated communication and deepened mutual understanding among all parties, such as by allowing MS patients to share their concerns and specialist physicians to provide correct information on MS. We then held an event for MS patients, their family and friends and the general public to enjoy playing the new version of tamaire, and invited some highly reputable Japanese mass media (TV and newspapers, etc.) to cover it. We also filmed and released a documentary on the process of modifying tamaire, which has become a hot topic on SNS among MS patients. Another way we have been raising awareness of MS among even more people is by loaning out the sport equipment we developed with professionals in sports development.