The beginning of the Paralympic Research Group can be traced back to the bid process for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Following the unsuccessful bid for the 2016 Games, it became necessary to articulate a new vision and legacy for a future bid. In the midst of these efforts, the Great East Japan Earthquake struck in 2011. Kazuo Ogura, who was serving as Secretary General of the Tokyo 2020 Bid Committee Council at the time, proposed the idea that demonstrating Japan’s recovery from the disaster to the world would serve as an expression of gratitude to the international community for its support. He further argued that the concept of recovery resonated deeply with the spirit of the Paralympic Movement, whose origins lie in rehabilitation from disability, and emphasized the need to communicate both the significance of the Paralympics and Japan’s sincere commitment.

Against this backdrop, and with strong support from the Bid Committee, a research group was established to study matters related to the Paralympics, bringing together academics, representatives of sport organizations, and other experts. With the support of The Nippon Foundation, this group developed in 2014 into The Nippon Foundation Paralympic Research Group. The Research Group has since undertaken a range of activities, including research projects, workshops and lectures, international symposia, the publication of an academic journal, and policy recommendations. One of its early proposals—strengthening para-sport federations—contributed to the establishment of The Nippon Foundation Paralympic Support Center (now The Nippon Foundation Para Sports Support Center), within which the Research Group continued its activities as one of its divisions.