Fellows

Salzburg Global Fellow Remo Sugimoto on her ambitions for autism inclusion in Japan and experience in the JITTN program 

Photo Credit: Katrin Kerschbaumer

Remo Sugimoto is a Fellow of the Japan-India Transformative Technology Network. She is the chief operating officer and project manager at OHANA CO., a company that aims to include and empower people with different abilities. Remo specializes in building livelihood opportunities for people with severe ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder).

Madhumitha Srinivasamoorthy, Impact Fellow, Salzburg Global Seminar: Can you tell me about yourself, your work, and how your work is related to Japan, India, and technology?

Remo Sugimoto, COO and Program Manager, OHANA CO.: I am working at a company that offers specialized support for people with severe autism and their families in Japan. Our company is running two nursing care centers for autism. One is a residence for people with the most significant level of autism in Akita prefecture in Japan. In our care centers, we also provide them with vocational training and employment opportunities based on their skills and capacity. For example, I oversee the development of original coffee products made by autistic workers. Since they pay specific attention to the details, they're good at hand-picking the coffee beans.

MS: Why did you join the Japan-India Transformative Technology Network? How do you see yourself in the network?

RS: My first exposure to this program was through a Zoom session conducted by Tobitate scholarship in Japan about the Japan-India Transformative Technology Network. As a Tobitate scholar, I was able to participate in this session. The reason why I joined this program was because I felt limited in my network due to the specific nature of my job. While we have some expertise and specialized knowledge on how to support people with severe autism, we lack a network both domestically and internationally. Even in Japan, there are not many organizations working in this domain. I want to utilize the JITTN platform to try a new approach to expanding my network. I want to share my experiences in Japan with other people outside and also collaborate with other people with the same passion and common interests.

MS: How do you like the JITTN program so far? Do you already see potential avenues of collaboration with the network?

RS: The program has been exceptionally amazing for me. I believe that I have met my future business partner in the [program]. Paras is running his own company and develops mobile applications to detect autistic traits of kids based on games. I was impressed by his work because the way he approaches the issue is very different from what we do. While his approach is more fun and interactive, ours is structural and procedural. He has a technological background, which we don't have. At the end of the program, we decided to form a team and collaborate. I believe our discussions will continue, even after this program ends. I think our collaboration will deliver [a greater] impact on society.

MS: What advantages do you think international platforms like JITTN provide for Japanese participants? 

RS: Before participating in this program, I didn't know much about India. Through this program, I learned a lot from Indian people about the technological expertise that India provides. Indians seem to know and use technology and AI more than the Japanese. For example, when I was talking with Paras, I indicated the technology I would like to employ for the issue area. He then showed me some products using the relevant technology that are already in circulation in India but that I had not seen or heard of in Japan. So, Indians are very, very advanced in terms of technology. I think the Japanese people have to learn from them about how to create more innovative and impactful solutions. Collaborations like these are not possible if there is no participation in such international forums by the Japanese.

MS: How would you describe your general experience in the JITTN in-person program in Salzburg?

RS: I think it's been a once-in-a-lifetime experience for me... Personally, I am quite shy. But there were many casual and interactive ways to communicate with other Fellows. The venue only enhances the experience. So, I felt very comfortable talking in public and being more open-minded. I felt mutual respect and trust with other Fellows, which will, I believe, help in the future [so that] we can collaborate.

Since coming to Salzburg in June 2023, Remo has been working alongside other Salzburg Global Fellows on a project centered around the theme of inclusion titled "Empowerment of People With Autism and Their Parents".