Brightening Disability and Sexuality: The Society Created by Rie Konishi, a Sex Worker Specializing in Clients with Disabilities

Information about the sexuality of people with disabilities is still scarce, and some may find themselves struggling alone without anyone to consult.

This time, we interviewed Rie Konishi, the representative of the General Incorporated Association Kagayaki Seisakusho and a sex worker specializing in clients with disabilities.

Ms. Konishi is directly addressing the issues of sexuality for people with disabilities and is working to create an environment where individuals with disabilities, their families, and supporters can easily consult about their sexual concerns.

Having worked at a sex service establishment for people with disabilities, she continues to provide services by visiting clients with disabilities as a specialized sex worker.

Can she continue to support the sexual concerns of those with mental or physical disabilities?

We explored the future envisioned by Ms. Konishi, who is more committed to addressing the sexuality of people with disabilities than anyone else.

*Information was confirmed and partially updated on March 13, 2026.

1. Solving Sexual Concerns for People with Disabilities! What is the General Incorporated Association Kagayaki Seisakusho?

The General Incorporated Association Kagayaki Seisakusho provides heartfelt support. Under the concept of "Making Disability and Sexuality Brighter," they offer services that address sexual concerns, closely supporting individuals with disabilities and their families.

The counseling services include proposing sexual services accessible to people with disabilities, support for sexual assistance, and addressing concerns about masturbation, catering to a wide range of issues regardless of the type of disability. They sincerely face the problems faced by individuals with disabilities and help find solutions.

The activities of Kagayaki Seisakusho also extend to families and supporters. Through lectures, they provide accurate knowledge and information about disability and sexuality, having a significant impact as welfare workers.

Additionally, they are committed to providing sex education, utilizing their experience as a provider of sexual services to disseminate beneficial information to people with disabilities and their families.

Through the initiatives of the General Incorporated Association Kagayaki Seisakusho, we aim to help people with disabilities be liberated from sexual concerns, become a source of emotional support for them and their families, and lay the foundation for building better human relationships.

Reference: General Incorporated Association Kagayaki Seisakusho

1-1. Developing Businesses that Support Sexual Concerns for People with Disabilities

[Interviewer (Writer): Akaishi / Interviewee: Ms. Konishi]

Akaishi: What kind of consultations are common in your counseling sessions?

Ms. Konishi: It really varies from person to person. There are concerns about not being understood by family, cases where we connect them to necessary services, and sometimes just listening to their stories.

There are concerns that are hard to talk about with those around them, but because I am somewhat removed, they feel they can open up to me.

Including emails, we receive about 30 inquiries a month from all over Japan, from Hokkaido to Okinawa. This makes me realize how few consultation windows there are and how there is no nearby environment for consultation.

Akaishi: Is there anything you prioritize when receiving consultations?

Ms. Konishi: I make sure to listen carefully to the needs and challenges of the person consulting. I believe it's important to think together about how to address those needs.

Also, I try not to say "you should do this." The needs of individuals with disabilities and their families differ, so I aim to be a bridge, listening to both sides and helping them reach mutual understanding.

1-2. What is the "Kagayaki no Step" Project for Discussing Sexuality of People with Disabilities?

Akaishi: What is the "Kagayaki no Step" project about?

Ms. Konishi: The project started when a supporter in Okayama began activities related to sexuality, and I resonated with their passion and vision.

The project consists of three main parts.

First, to investigate and widely share the realities and needs of sexuality for people with disabilities. Second, to hold events related to sexuality and create an environment where people can easily consult. Third, to create a portal site for disability welfare and establish a consultation window.

We plan to realize these with the support from crowdfunding.

Akaishi: What kind of content do you want to share on the information portal site?

Ms. Konishi: Of course, we want to share information related to sexuality. Additionally, we hope to share information about welfare activities happening in the users' regions.

We are currently working with our team to create content that is easy to use for people with intellectual and mental disabilities, not just physical disabilities.

Although the project is centered in Okayama, I would be delighted if activities like Kagayaki no Step spread nationwide as a model case.

2. Who is Rie Konishi?

As a child, Ms. Konishi loved music and played the electone.

She says she became aware of welfare after caring for her grandmother, who was like a parent to her.

Why did she become interested in the sexuality of people with disabilities? Let's delve into the roots of Ms. Konishi.

2-1. Delving into the Past of Rie Konishi, a Sex Worker Specializing in Clients with Disabilities

Akaishi: What led you to enter the nightlife industry?

Ms. Konishi: I started with a very casual mindset. I had no resistance, but I didn't understand the services or customer service, so I wasn't really valuing the customers.

I started taking it seriously at the second establishment. It was a very strict place in terms of training, and I learned from scratch about interacting with people, which made me truly face my work in the nightlife industry.

Looking back, there were many tough times, but the joy from customers and the financial rewards were significant, allowing me to support my grandmother, who raised me like a parent.

2-2. The Feelings Realized Through the Death of Her Grandmother

Akaishi: What made you become aware of caregiving?

Ms. Konishi: When my grandmother developed dementia and Parkinson's disease and entered a facility, I saw caregiving work firsthand for the first time.

I only cared for my grandmother for a short time before she passed, but I received a lot of help from caregivers, and I realized their immense importance.

I thought that meeting such caregivers can significantly change the environment for that family.

After my grandmother passed away, when I thought about my future, I felt that caregiving was my only path, so I attended a welfare vocational school.

2-3. Learning About the Reality of a Mother Handling Her Disabled Son's Sexual Desires

Akaishi: Why did you decide to work at a sex service establishment for people with disabilities?

Ms. Konishi: When I was invited by a friend to visit a group home, I met a resident who complained that "every day is not fun."

I wondered if people with disabilities couldn't experience the same romantic and sexual activities as others, and when I researched, I learned about sex service establishments for people with disabilities.

I had never interacted with individuals with disabilities before, but I wanted to understand the current state of sexuality for people with disabilities, so I started working as a sex worker specializing in clients with disabilities while also working as a caregiver.

Some clients thanked me, saying, "Thank you for dealing with someone like me," and I realized how few people have such experiences. I also began to wonder what happens to those who find it difficult to research on their own.

Akaishi: Was that the trigger for starting your business?

Ms. Konishi: That was part of it. When I decided to start activities related to the sexuality of people with disabilities and contacted supporters, I heard a sad real-life story.

A mother was handling the sexual needs of her son with an intellectual disability. To prevent her son from committing a crime, she became his partner and ended up pregnant with his child.

I was shocked. I wondered, why does the mother have to deal with this alone?

The mother had no one to consult, and I wondered how many mothers are in the same situation now. That moment made me more determined to start my activities.

3. What Rie Konishi Wants to Convey Through Her Activities on "Disability and Sexuality"

Akaishi: Is there anything you want to convey through the activities of Kagayaki Seisakusho?

Ms. Konishi: To families, I want to say that they don't have to bear everything alone. Don't hold back your thoughts, and feel free to seek help from those around you. We are here to support you, so please feel free to consult with us.

To individuals with disabilities, I think it's okay to be more honest about how you want to live.

As we continue our activities steadily, more opportunities to be known are increasing, so I want to eliminate giving up due to disabilities and hope that individuals with disabilities can freely choose their way of life.

4. "Bringing Sexuality Closer" - Supporting a Society Where Basic Human Desires Are Supported

Akaishi: Can you tell us about the future you envision?

Ms. Konishi: There are many people struggling due to a lack of knowledge and information about sexuality. Therefore, I hope that learning about sexuality becomes a norm from a young age.

With a foundation in sex education, I want to focus more on disseminating information about sex education so that people can enter society as adults. I would be delighted if the circle of learning and thinking about sexuality together expands further.

This will lead to a society where we can openly talk about the sexuality of people with disabilities.

Instead of others deciding "this person can't" or "this person doesn't need it," we will work together to create a society where individuals can freely choose their way of life, supporting the basic human desires.

5. Supporting the Realization of a Society That Doesn't Define People as "Disabled ○○"

Ms. Konishi believes that having a disability is just one characteristic and a part of a person.

She has stated, "I want people to see it as '○○ has this side too,' rather than 'Disabled ○○,'" and is working to turn it into a strength.

Ms. Konishi mentions that people are sometimes surprised and ask, "Do people with disabilities have sexual desires?" This suggests that sexuality is often seen as separate from the image of people with disabilities.

In Europe, there is a perspective that "both excretion and ejaculation are assisted by caregivers."

On the other hand, in Japan, understanding of the sexual desires of people with disabilities is still lacking in some areas, as indicated by Ms. Konishi's experiences. However, people with disabilities are, of course, human beings with natural sexual desires.

The activities Ms. Konishi is engaged in offer hope not only to people with disabilities but also to their families.

In daily life, there are often cases where parents do not know how to handle the sexual concerns of their disabled children.

As mentioned in the interview, many people may not have anyone to consult about their sexual concerns.

In such cases, instead of worrying alone, we encourage you to visit Kagayaki Seisakusho. Please also check out their official website and Twitter. We believe that addressing sexual concerns with peers and professionals can lead to steps toward resolution.

Official Website: https://www.kagayakiseisakusho.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/kagayaki_fac

Additionally, a manga titled "The Disabled Sex Worker Me", based on Rie Konishi's original concept about the sexuality of people with disabilities, will be published by KADOKAWA on February 19, 2025.

The work is sure to captivate readers with the character "Tsukushi," who begins working at a sex service establishment for people with disabilities