Staff / JPC Profile
Seiya Okura
大倉 星耶
- Intermediate JPC (JADA-Certified Autonomy Parents Coach)
- JADA Support Staff
Drawing on his own experience of school refusal and hikikomori, he works on the front line of support, including outreach (home visits). He has handled 800 or more consultations and made 500 or more home visits.
Support Experience
Track Record
800+
Consultations
100+
Families supported
500+
Home visits
10+ years
Interview coaching
My Story
I, too, went through a time when I couldn’t move forward
In the summer of my third year of high school, I stopped going to school. It began with the listlessness I felt after my club activities ended and with conflicts with my family over my future path. I then experienced social withdrawal (hikikomori) for about six to nine months.
I never intended to stay away from school for a long time.
But little by little I drifted away from everyday life, and before I knew it, I had become increasingly disconnected from society.
Then, encouraged by the people around me and by a feeling growing inside me that “I can’t go on like this,” I gradually began to go out again.
After working part-time, taking a job, attending university and working as a teacher, I now support children and young people who, like my younger self, are experiencing school refusal or hikikomori.
- Final year of high school
- School refusal & hikikomori
- Re-engaging with society
- University
- Elementary school teacher
- School-refusal support
- Outreach support
- JADA
From Experience to Support
Turning experience into the strength to support others
After graduating from high school, I gradually became more active through part-time work and other activities, and then took a job at an events company.
At 23, I entered the Faculty of Education at Toyo University, and after graduating I worked as an elementary school teacher in Saitama Prefecture.
From my fourth year of university, I interned at Gakuryokukai, run by Takanobu Sugiura. I then moved into school-refusal and hikikomori support, and, drawing on my own experience of hikikomori, launched an outreach (home-visit support) program for young people together with Sugiura.
Today, as a JADA support staff member, I support children and young people experiencing school refusal or hikikomori, and their parents.
Support Approach
What I value in support
Every case of school refusal or hikikomori has its own background.
I listen carefully to each person and their family. Beyond offering emotional support, I work with them to identify what they need to take the next step, and I stay positive and personally engaged until the problem is resolved.
People often tell me I seem gentle and kind, though I see myself as someone who doesn’t dwell on things.
Strong curiosity drives what I do, and I love talking with people.
Experience
Main Areas of Support
School refusal & hikikomori consultations
Consultations with parents and young people
Outreach
Home visits and direct support for young people
Further education
Support informed by the educational systems and academic administration of correspondence high schools and other schools
Social participation & employment
Interview coaching for AO (Admissions Office) admissions and for civil service and private-sector job applications
Career
Career
- 01Graduated from Kumamoto High School
- 02Worked at an events company
- 03Entered the Faculty of Education, Toyo University, at 23
- 04Worked as an elementary school teacher in Saitama Prefecture
- 05Interned at Gakuryokukai, run by Takanobu Sugiura, while at university
- 06Worked in school-refusal and hikikomori support
- 07Helped launch an outreach (home-visit support) program for young people
- 08Currently works as a JADA support staff member
Articles
Articles by Seiya Okura
He will share his experiences from the front line of support, and write about school-refusal and hikikomori support, further education and social participation.
Articles will be published over time.