We are organizing the Rare Disease Day 2016 event, the sixth time that this International Rare Disease Day event is held in Japan.

Rare Disease Day (“RDD”) movement was started in Sweden in 2008, with the purpose of improving the quality of life of patients suffering rare refractory diseases by promoting better diagnosis and care. The first RDD event in Japan was held in Tokyo Mid-Town on February 28, 2010. Since them, events have been held at Marunouchi OAZO OO-Square and other places. The last event, RDD 2015, was held on the theme “Weave – Connected through Encounter with You – Rare Disease”, with over 1,900 participants. In addition to the patients and their families and other concerned parties, our participants included those aspired to engage in R&D in this area and members of the general public who passed by the venue. We have heard that the event helped them not only to gain knowledge, but that they also enhanced their understanding. In addition to the Tokyo event, we have started to hold RDD events in 25 local sites across the country. We feel that the recognition of RDD has improved every year as the events connect patients with the general society.

The theme of RDD 2016 is, “rare is not RARE –Open the way to the future- ”. We wish that patients with rare diseases and their families, other concerned parties, those who know about rare diseases, those to whom the event will provide their first encounter, and everyone else who becomes involved, take part in RDD. Thus we wish that they will weave each heart, act, meeting and connection with each other; to make “the future” better. This theme is intended to signify such a hope. Since this year’s event will fall on Saturday, it is expected that there will be younger participants. Therefore we have chosen the Roppongi venue. We, the staff, will tackle the event planning tasks sincerely so that even more and a more diverse range of people will take part. 32 official RDD 2016 events are hold in Japan.

This year, the main theme will be the same across the country and the unified poster design will be used nationwide, in an effort to achieve better coordination than before. For that purpose we strive to strengthen the functions of RDD Japan Secretariat and to enhance our event planning efforts.

Please let you check our RDD Japan Official website , or RDD Tokyo website.