Run Tomo: Creating a dementia-friendly community across Japan

In March 2019, a Daiwa Foundation Small Grant was awarded to Ellie Robinson-Carter, a Creative Dementia Practitioner, to support  “Pass the Baton!” – an international exchange  with  Takehito Tokuda, a member of  the  Dementia Friendship Club in Japan. Over the course of this project, Takehito Tokuda visited the UK and Ellie Robinson-Carter travelled to Japan on a research visit.

The exchange began with Takehito Tokuda participating in an international conference in July 2019, at Falmouth University hosted by Robinson-Carter about the benefits of creative, intergenerational practice. He spoke about the dementia landscape in Japan, with specific reference to the model of Run Tomo, a project set up by the Dementia Friendly Club. Run Tomo is a relay running race involving people living with dementia and their carers in Japan.

The other half of the “Pass the Baton!” project saw Robinson-Carter travel to Japan for  two weeks in autumn 2019,  visiting the Run Tomo communities of Fuiji city, Fujinomiya city and Machida city to experience the project as a runner herself, whilst inviting participants to pass around a disposable camera to document their shared experiences whilst running together in their bright orange t-shirts.

She was keen to capture the tenacity, strength of spirit, determination and drive of those involved in Run Tomo: “from the sweaty foreheads, to when hands meet other hands in exchange of the baton, to the tender moments where people celebrate their athletic achievements.”

Robinson-Carter’s initiative has led to her forming a steering group focused on intergenerational practice in Cornwall and UK-wide. This involves partners across Cornwall including Tate St Ives, Eden Project, Sensory Trust, Penryn Memory Cafe, Wadebridge Concern, Falmouth University, Volunteer Cornwall, Wheal Martyn Museum, local schools, creative practitioners and researchers. Run Tomo Cornwall, is of course, one of the group’s aims!

Here and below you can view a short film in English about Run Tomo, created by EXIT film:

Run Tomo film