子供らが日本発の義足体験　パラアスリートに共感―ブラジル

　【サンパウロ時事】ブラジルの最大都市サンパウロにある日本政府の文化発信拠点「ジャパン・ハウス」で２８日、競技用義足開発の第一人者であるサイボーグ社（東京都江東区）の遠藤謙社長（４４）によるワークショップと体験会が開かれ、健常者の子供らが義足を装着した歩行に挑戦した。遠藤氏は１週間の日程でサンパウロを訪れ、同国パラリンピック委員会や選手、障害のある子供らと意見交換を重ねている。
　父母と３人で参加したサンパウロ在住の小学生エンヒッキ・アウベス君（１０）はパラリンピックの展示を前に「オリンピックと同じくらいすごいと思う」。初めての義足に「重くてとても疲れた。脚のない人はとても大変だと思った」と思いをはせた。
　遠藤氏は、パラ競技強豪国ブラジル政府の障害者スポーツに対する熱心さに感銘を受ける一方で、子供らが体に合った義足を使えていない状況が印象に残ったと話す。
　「（ブラジルの）トップアスリートを世界的ヒーローに引き上げ、それを見た子供たちが自分も走りたいと思える受け皿をつくりたい」。遠藤氏は、夢である「１００メートル走で義足が世界記録を作る」日に向け、ブラジルなど途上国で普及に努める決意だ。（2023/01/29-20:30）

Physically unimpaired children and others in Sao Paulo had an experience of wearing prosthetic legs developed by a Japanese company at a trial session held at Japan House, a Japanese government-run public relations hub, in the Brazilian city on Saturday.
   The session, held along with a related workshop, was organized by Ken Endo, CEO of the Tokyo-based prosthetic leg developer and manufacturer, Xiborg.
   Endo, 44, a leading expert on the development of prosthetic legs for athletes, is on a weeklong visit to Sao Paulo, meeting with officials of the Brazilian Paralympic Committee as well as Paralympians and children with disabilities in the South American country.
   A 10-year-old boy from Sao Paulo who participated in the trial session with his parents said he got tired because the prosthetic leg he tried on for the first time was very heavy. He said the experience allowed him to realize that people without legs are going through a lot of trouble. The boy also saw a Paralympics-related exhibition set up at the venue and said he thought the Paralympics is as great as the Olympics.
   Endo said he was impressed with the enthusiasm for sports for the disabled by the government of Brazil, a Paralympics superpower. At the same time, Endo said he felt that many children and others in Brazil with disabilities are not using prosthetics that fit their bodies well.