Japan anime studio draws on talent of autistic artists

A drawing draft at the animation studio Shake Hands in Kyoto. The groundbreaking initiative at Shake Hands aims to provide job training and confidence to people with autism, who can find it hard to cope in Japan's often high-stress and long-hours work environment. Photo: AFP

Diagnosed with autism, Shoko Sakuma says she struggled working in accounting but now she is putting her childhood love of drawing to work in a special Japanese animation studio.

The groundbreaking initiative aims to provide job training and confidence to people with autism who can find it hard to cope in Japan's often high-stress and long-hours work environment.