His Majesty The King honours Mr Koji Yanai
His Majesty King Charles III has approved the award of an Honorary MBE to Mr Koji Yanai in recognition of his services to paralympic sport and disability inclusion.
Mr Yanai has been a committed supporter of ParalympicsGB since 2019, providing vocal advocacy and strategic insight and philanthropic contributions that helped ParalympicsGB to achieve remarkable success at the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.
He played a pivotal role in championing the Paralympic Movement and disability inclusion in Japan and globally.
In the UK and internationally, as Executive Producer of the acclaimed Equal Play film and campaign, Mr Yanai helped spotlight the importance of equal access to sport for disabled people, influencing opinions and inspiring change.
In Japan, Mr Yanai has contributed to advancing an inclusive society through a broader cultural and societal approach. He initiated and supported THE TOKYO TOILET project in Shibuya, which reimagined public infrastructure to ensure dignity, accessibility and inclusivity for all. As part of this initiative, he produced the internationally acclaimed film PERFECT DAYS, which portrayed themes of human dignity, care and respect in everyday life, helping to foster greater public understanding of inclusion. These efforts in Japan formed an important foundation for his subsequent work on Equal Play.
His leadership and generosity have strengthened the UK’s position as a world-leading Paralympic nation, reinforced the connections between Paralympic sport organisations in the UK and Japan, and advanced efforts to create a more inclusive society through sport.