Grand opening of "magnet" on October 1st, 2021

The shōgaisha mirai sōzō sentā 特定非営利活動法人障がい者みらい創造センター, a specified non-profit organization which can be translated as "Center for the Creation of a (New) Future for Persons with Disabilities," will open a café called "magnet" in Nagoya on Friday, October 1, 2021, with the aim of providing employment mainly for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Practical training for people with disabilities seeking employment

In Japan, the number of welfare offices available to help people with disabilities find employment opportunities is increasing year by year. However, most of these welfare offices are not open to society at large, as the work environment they provide is only accessible to its users and staff. This is also an important welfare issue in and of itself.

Hoping to address this issue, the Center for the Creation of a New Future for Persons with Disabilities decided to open a café to create an environment where people can train for employment at a close distance from the local community while maintaining a connection with society.

The exterior of the café provides no indication that people with disabilities are working there. Moreover, the interior is a stylish space that doesn't look like it's run by a welfare facility. The Center believes that employees will learn through their relationship with customers by preparing food and serving them and that this can lead to them finding general employment. People with disabilities will be able to earn a salary while receiving employment training. In addition, there are many easy-to-understand video manuals and photo manuals available so that employees with disabilities can work confidently on their own.

First-class products thanks to the sponsorship of specialty stores

Specialty stores are providing first-class food and technical guidance, allowing "magnet" to reproduce these stores' popular menu items within their premises. Four famous restaurants are sponsoring the café: Coffee from Double Tall Cafe ダブルトールカフェ, black tea from Lattice ラティス, Japanese tea from Myōkōen 妙香園, and lunchtime curry dishes from Hirono 比呂野, famous for their tonkatsu pork cutlets. The Center prides itself on the fact that it won't provide mediocre food and beverages at magnet just on account of being a welfare service.

Realization of work styles that suit each individual

At the café, employees can take advantage of the national welfare system's support framework to transition to temporary and eventually, continuous employment. Therefore, employees can not only get invaluable on-the-job training but also work in a stress-free environment. Employees can get used to working once a week or for a few hours at a time.

Also, since the Center also has partnerships with restaurants and company cafeterias, employees who work at magnet will be able to find employment where they can directly use the skills they acquired there. Together with supporters who understand disabilities, the Center will help people with intellectual and developmental disabilities find jobs that they truly want to do, not just jobs that they are merely able to do.

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Opening Event

As a grand opening event, a ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held on October 1 at 10:00 (JST). Drinks and dessert samples will be handed out on that day. Also, from October 1st to 31st, for every 1,000 JPY that customers spend in cash, magnet will give you a 500 JPY gift certificate that can be used on your next visit. Why not take this opportunity to visit the store?

Store information

• Name: magnet
• Address (JP): 愛知県名古屋市瑞穂区苗代町２６－５
• Address (EN): 26-5 Naeshiro-cho, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture
• Tel: 052-627-8333
• Business hours: 10:30 a.m. - 10:00 p.m. (subject to change according to government regulations) / Closed on Wednesdays
• magnet official website (website will open on October 1st)