Can Anime Be a 'Source of Emotional Support'? - Notice of the 1st JOSCR Regular Meeting for Fiscal Year 2026
Anime, games, manga, plastic models, 'oshi-katsu' (supporting one's favorite character/idol), and so on.
In the worlds of medicine and rehabilitation, these are still often treated merely as 'hobbies' or 'leisure'.
Of course, that is not wrong. However, when interacting with people in clinical settings, we sometimes encounter situations that cannot be fully captured by the word 'hobby' alone.
The moment they talk about their favorite work, their expression changes
They begin to express their own feelings through talking about characters
Their 'oshi' or a story becomes a source of strength that supports their daily life
Anime and subculture become a gateway to human connection and social participation
Such moments are surely not rare, are they?
At the Japanese Society for Culture and Rehabilitation (JOSCR), we value viewing subculture not just as entertainment, but as meaningful occupations for the individual, a medium for self-understanding, and a gateway to social participation.
Last fiscal year, JOSCR held small, internal study sessions exploring the intersections between rehabilitation/support practices and themes such as Monster Hunter, e-sports, plastic models, Gunpla, 'oshi-katsu' fans, and retro games.
And now, for our 1st regular meeting of fiscal year 2026, we are finally tackling 'anime' head-on.
The theme is 'The Crosspoint of Anime and Occupational Therapy'.
The theme of this regular meeting is,
The Crosspoint of Anime and Occupational Therapy: 'Healing' in Anime and the Potential for Interpersonal Support from the Perspective of Psychological Research
.
We are honored to invite Dr. Takuya Yabuta, a lecturer at the Certified Public Psychologist Program Management Office, Graduate School of Human Sciences, Osaka University, as our speaker.
Dr. Yabuta explores the processes and psychological mechanisms through which anime brings emotional healing from the standpoint of clinical and health psychology. He also has clinical experience as a Certified Public Psychologist and Clinical Psychologist, focusing on parent-child support in pediatric care.
Lecturer information can be found here:
https://researchmap.jp/takuya_yabuta
To avoid turning anime into just a 'rehabilitation tool'
What we want to consider in this regular meeting is not simply,
Let's use anime for rehabilitation.
That is not what this is about.
On the contrary, I believe caution is required there.
If supporters easily consume the anime, characters, or narrative experiences that an individual holds dear as 'tools for therapy,' there is a possibility that the important world for that person could be destroyed.
That is precisely why we must first learn how anime affects the human heart.
Why does anime become a source of emotional support, provide healing, or serve as a catalyst for dialogue?
I believe we need to carefully study the psychological significance of these aspects.
In occupational therapy, we value activities that are meaningful to the individual.
If that is the case, watching, talking about, analyzing, supporting, and engaging with the world of anime may also be deeply connected to that person's life, self-understanding, and social participation.
In this regular meeting, I hope we can share a perspective that reconsiders anime not merely as entertainment or an object of consumption, but as apsychological resourcethat supports people's hearts.
Content of the day
In the first half, Dr. Yabuta will introduce findings from the perspectives of clinical psychology and health psychology, focusing on the positive psychological effects that anime brings, especially 'emotional healing'.
In the second half, based on those findings, I would like to think together with the participants about how anime can be utilized in occupational therapy and psychological support, as well as its possibilities and points to keep in mind.
I hope to make this not just a stiff lecture, but a friendly and interactive space, as is typical of JOSCR.
Recommended for those who
Are interested in utilizing anime and subculture in support
Are involved in occupational therapy, psychological support, or interpersonal assistance
Want to think about how to position the 'things the individual likes' in support
Want to learn about the 'healing' and psychological significance that anime holds
Are interested in practices that utilize games, manga, plastic models, and 'oshi-katsu' (supporting one's favorite character/idol) in rehabilitation
I believe that not only occupational therapists, but also physical therapists, speech-language-hearing therapists, psychological professionals, welfare workers, educators, and anyone involved in interpersonal support will be able to take home some hints.
Event Overview
2026 JOSCR 1st Regular Meeting
Theme
The Crosspoint of Anime and Occupational Therapy
The 'Healing' Power of Anime and the Potential for Interpersonal Support from the Perspective of Psychological Research
Lecturer
Dr. Takuya Yabuta
Graduate School of Human Sciences, Osaka University
Lecturer, Certified Public Psychologist Program Office
Ph.D. (Human Sciences) / Certified Public Psychologist / Clinical Psychologist
Date and Time
Wednesday, July 15, 2026, 19:00–21:00
Format
Online (Zoom)
Participation Fee
Free
Organizer
Japan Otaku & Subculture Rehabilitation Research Group (JOSCR)
Details and Registration Page
https://joscr.org/event/joscr-2026-regular-meeting-01/
Considering 'Things We Love' as an Entry Point for Support
For some, anime and subculture may be nothing more than entertainment.
However, for others, they may be what supported them through difficult times in their lives.
Stories that speak for our own feelings.
Characters that stayed by our side during lonely times.
Works that became a catalyst for talking to others.
Oshi-katsu (supporting a favorite character/idol) that made us feel like we could go outside again.
I believe that within such 'things we love' lie important meanings that supporters have not yet been able to fully articulate.
This regular meeting is an important step for JOSCR as well.
Thinking about anime from both the perspectives of psychology and occupational therapy.
Thinking about how to carefully handle subculture to support a person's unique life and occupations.
I hope we can make this that kind of time.
If you are interested, please join us.
Also, if you know anyone who might be interested, we would appreciate it if you could share this information with them.