Ms Azuma has been active in social engagement and volunteering for 30 years as an individual.
In 2011, Ms Azuma saw and heard about what was happening at shelters set up after the Great East Japan Earthquake.
"This person in a wheelchair wasn't accepted at a shelter because the place wasn't barrier-free. This boy with autism had a panic attack at a shelter and a man there got mad at the boy's mother. She had to wrap her son up with a blanket to make the noise down... for a few days. Families with a disabled member chose to stay in a car instead of coming to a shelter", Ms Azuma said.
"Blind people and deaf people missed out on food and relief supplies because they couldn't get the information."
"I was shocked. I thought we have to change the society to be more inclusive."
Ms Azuma is a well-known Japanese actress. Through her organization called Get in touch, Ms Azuma started utilizing the power of entertainment to reach many people including ones who are not interested in the issue at all.
In the audio, Ms Azuma talks about the organization's activities and its upcoming campaign Warm Blue Day, which is timed to coincide with the World Autism Awareness Day, the 2nd of April.
