■ Introduction of the participating players

Name: Ei Yabuno
Age: 23
Birthplace: Osaka Prefecture
Event: Volleyball (Men's)
Position: Outside hitter
episode:
Yabuno discovered volleyball at a school for the deaf in her first year of junior high school. After suffering a crushing defeat in a match against hearing players, her opponent said to her, "You did a great job despite being deaf," which made her feel frustrated and motivated to compete with even more enthusiasm than before. Her efforts paid off, and she competed in a world tournament for the first time last year as a member of the Japanese national team, achieving sixth place at the 2024 Deaf Volleyball World Championships. She is a mood maker who livens up those around her with her natural cheerfulness, both on the national team and at work.
comment:
Within the company, sign language is used as a common language, including for hearing people. There are few places where people with disabilities are so understanding and where I can enjoy working. I am grateful for the support I receive from so many people, including my coworkers. This is the first time the tournament has been held in Japan, so I really want to win. I want to bring home a medal and give back.

■ Creating a workplace where everyone can thrive

At OSP Heartful, we are working to create an environment where everyone can thrive, regardless of whether they have a disability or not. These efforts have led to a sense of security for our employees, and our employee retention rate for the past three years has been 100%.

[Examples of initiatives]
・Regular sign language study sessions are held for all employees
・Creating a skill sheet that visualizes work skills
・Reducing physical strain by reducing heavy labor and reviewing movement patterns
- Understand employees' condition by checking their physical condition and mood when they arrive at work

■Special support for Yabuno

He is granted special leave from approximately one month before the tournament when the national team training camp begins until the end of the tournament. Even during normal times, we have a support system in place to limit overtime so that he can participate in practice after work. We are supporting Yabuno by creating a work environment where he can thrive both competitively and professionally as a member of the Japanese national team.

■Outline of the Tokyo 2025 Deaflympics

The Olympics for the deaf and hard of hearing are organized by the International Committee of Sports for the Deaf (ICSD). This year marks the 100th anniversary of the Olympics, and it will be held in Japan for the first time.

Dates: November 15th to 26th, 2025
Participating countries: 70-80 countries and regions
Number of participants: Approximately 6,000 people (approximately 3,000 players)
Number of events: 21

■ Volleyball Event Overview

Each sport employs various methods to convey information visually. In volleyball, the sport in which Yabuno competes, referees use hand signals and shake the net to communicate decisions such as outs and touch nets to players.

Dates: November 16th to November 25th

Venue: Komazawa Olympic Park General Athletic Ground Gymnasium
(Address: 1-1 Komazawa Park, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo)

■ About OSP HEARTFUL CO., LTD.

• Number of employees: 48
  Of these, 29 people have disabilities (20 with hearing impairments, 5 with mental disabilities, and 4 with intellectual disabilities).
  *Major certifications and awards

• ・Received the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare's "Monisu Certification System" for outstanding small and medium-sized business owners regarding the employment of people with disabilities (2022)

• ・Received the Heartful Company Education Contribution Award (2022) and Heartful Company Challenge Support Award (2024) at the Osaka Prefecture Heartful Company Awards.