Personal Information
Mariko Miyagi was a multifaceted artist known for her work as an actress, screenwriter, director, and film producer. Beyond her contributions to cinema, she established Nemunoki Gakuen in April 1968 in Shizuoka-ken, marking it as Japan's first school dedicated to children with disabilities. Founded with her own financial resources, the institution gently guides children and young adults facing physical, intellectual, or familial challenges to discover and nurture their talents through activities such as painting, music, tea ceremony, and dancing. In 1997, the facility relocated to its present hillside location in Kakegawa, Shizuoka-ken, where it operates as Nemunoki Village. This community currently houses 56 students ranging in age from 2 to 38, along with 22 elderly residents, all living together with 96 staff members and their families. Miyagi passed away on March 21, 2020, due to lymphoma.
