1964 Tokyo Paralympics still inspiring volunteers young and old

The 1964 Paralympics in Tokyo is considered the turning point not only for disabled sports in Japan but also for volunteers who assisted athletes and officials as interpreters at a time when wheelchair users were rarely seen in public in the country.As Tokyo prepares to host its second games after 56 years, some of the former volunteers are hoping to make another impact. Meanwhile, their experience has inspired the younger generation to take a leading role as the games approach.Akiko Wakai, 77, and Mutsuko Inada, 76, were among the interpreters who offered assistance during the five-day Par…READ FULL ARTICLE