Japanese Gov’t White Paper shows high instances of mental illness reported by women, people working in construction and the media
“A Japanese government’s white paper pointed to a need to improve work environments to reduce stress on workers.”
Latest Posts
Keisei Electric Railway alters Braille block after ‘white cane’ using woman fell to her death
“A railway company renovated a Braille block, in response to an accident in which a visually impaired woman fell and died at a station…The Keisei Electric Railway said, “We will continue to work on safety measures in response to this painful accident.” ”
Typhoon again highlights sad state of Japan’s evacuation shelters [Mainichi Shimbun Editorial]
“It is not unusual to find emergency shelters equipped only with traditional squat toilets, which can be difficult to impossible to use for disabled people and elderly evacuees with leg and hip problems.”
Japan Designates Typhoon Hagibis as “Specified” Disaster
“The designation is made for extraordinary and very severe disasters that destroy or damage a great number of houses and disrupt transport and vital services in wide areas so that impacts on afflicted individuals and businesses are minimized.”
ANA avatar robots, flying cars buzz at Japan high-tech show
“”We want people who cannot take planes for reasons such as illness, physical disability as well as economic and political circumstances, to overcome challenges and travel…enabling such people to connect with others around the world means the same as having them take our flights.”
Three months after the attack, KyoAni arsonist yet to recover enough to be arrested
“The Kyoto prefectural police headquarters has obtained an arrest warrant on the suspect on charges including of murdering 36 people and attempting to kill 34 others.”
Wheelchair rugby players look for spotlight amid World Cup excitement
“The Japanese Para-Sports Association and the country’s wheelchair rugby federation have organized an international tournament in Tokyo during the Rugby World Cup partly in a bid to raise the recognition of the sport ahead of the Paralympics.The five-day World Wheelchair Rugby Challenge 2019, which opens Wednesday, will see eight of the top-10 teams battling it out at Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium.”
Children in Quake-Hit Kumamoto Still Need Mental Health Care
“Children in Kumamoto Prefecture are still in need of mental health care for the trauma and stress they suffered from deadly earthquakes that hit the southwestern Japan prefecture in April 2016.”
Elderly woman falls to her death in Typhoon Hagibis rescue operation [Updated]
“The Deputy Director of the Tokyo Fire Department, Hirofumi Shimizu apologized, saying, “I ’m sorry. I ’ll confirm the cause and try to prevent recurrence and restore trust.”
Physical Strength of Japanese Elderly Continues Improving
“The physical strength and athletic ability of elderly people in Japan continues to improve while those of women in their 30s and 40s are falling, the Japan Sports Agency said in a survey report on Sunday.”
Elderly woman falls to her death in Typhoon Hagibis rescue operation
“The Tokyo Fire Department has apologized for the accident, saying that rescuers forgot to attach the hook of her safety harness.”
Japanese nursery for disabled children helps moms return to work
“For many disabled children who are not hospitalized, it is often the mother who must care for them, but in Asahi’s case both his parents are able to go to work because of the nursing care he receives at home for up to eight hours on weekdays.”
Saitama nursing home residents stranded by flood after Typhoon Hagibis
“Authorities say about 260 people are stranded in a nursing home in Saitama Prefecture, north of Tokyo, due to a flood.”
Typhoon threatens to disrupt public transport in Japan over weekend
“Train operators and airlines said Thursday they are planning to or may suspend their services in eastern and western Japan this weekend, as a powerful typhoon is expected to hit the country.”
What will be the Legacy of the Tokyo Paralympics?
“Making Japan more accessible will pay dividends beyond the disabled community. Japan’s population is aging rapidly, and the number of seniors using wheelchairs, canes or crutches is only going to grow.”
Inconsistently Barrier Free: On experiencing safety barriers at Japan’s Railway Stations
“Whatever the reason, I sometimes wonder why the safety barriers were installed at all, if they are used in such a way that increases the possibility that people could fall onto the tracks a long time before a train might arrive.”
Extraordinary session of the Diet begins, Japan’s PM Abe quotes disabled lawmaker in policy speech
In discussing the importance of building a diverse society, Abe quoted a remark by Yasuhiko Funago, a severely disabled lawmaker of new opposition party Reiwa Shinsengumi, that “humans can enjoy their lives no matter how their appearances change”.It is rare for a policy speech by a prime minister to refer to an opposition lawmaker.”
In the space of two days, two blind people have died at Japan Railway Stations
“Since October began, two blind people have died at a railway stations in Japan.”
Japan’s campaign to change escalator behavior
“The images are of posters near train stations in Osaka.”
Sagamihara suspect’s trial to begin in January 2020 and conclude in March
“In the trial, information that identifies some individuals, such as the name of the victim, will not be disclosed, and the defendant’s ability to be held criminally responsible will be at issue.”
Woman with white cane killed by train at Tokyo area station
“A woman apparently carrying a white cane was hit by a train and killed at Tateishi Station on the Keisei Oshiage Line on the morning of Oct. 1.”
Mie Prefecture city “did not take care” when examining disabled applicants
“When Tsu City In Mie Prefecture employs people with disabilities, it effectively excludes people with mental and intellectual disabilities and people with visual and hearing disabilities.”
Japan’s Olympics Minister hopes for “efficient transport system” after Rugby World Cup delays
“The newly appointed minister in charge of the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games, Seiko Hashimoto, said: “”I want the factors that contributed to the traffic delay to be identified and any issues fixed,” “
Controversy surrounding Nagoya Castle accessibility continues [Yomiuri Editorial]
“Although there is great significance to restoring the tower to its original condition, making buildings accessible to people with disabilities, among others, is appropriate for the era we are in. It is essential to accommodate the wishes of various people while seeking to preserve the keep’s historic value. Efforts should be made to find common ground.”
Recent attempt to make escalators in Japan accessible prompts a sense of déjà vu
“Railway companies in Japan run such campaigns almost ever year and it never produces a change in the behavior of commuters since passengers complain that, “changing the convention is a nuisance for people on the go.””
Stand and be delivered: Japan’s evolving escalator etiquette
“According to data released by the Tokyo Fire Department, around 1,400 people per year were taken to hospital from 2012 to 2016, more than 60 percent of whom were aged 65 and over in 2016, due to escalator accidents.”
Tokyo 2020 organizers falling short of ‘diversity & harmony’ slogan [Mainichi Shimbun Editorial]
“Keyed to the slogan “diversity and harmony,” the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games are being ballyhooed as events that will spur the creation of an inclusive society here in Japan. However, we must question whether those running the games have truly dedicated themselves to this goal.”
Japan’s Imperial family visits a facility for people with disabilities in Niigata
“Whilst visiting Niigata Prefecture, the Emperor and Empress visited a facility for people with disabilities called the “Niigata Fureai Plaza” on September 17th and interacted with residents.”
KyoAni Arson Suspect Now Able to Respond to Questions
“The Kyoto Animation Co. arson attack suspect has recovered enough to be able to answer questions, investigative sources said Wednesday.”
Japanese government and manufacturers promote electric wheelchairs
“The government and manufacturers are promoting electric wheelchairs as a means of transportation to replace automobiles at a time when elderly people are increasingly returning their driver’s licenses.”
Japan’s Elderly Population Totals Record 35.88 million
“The estimated number of people aged 65 or older in Japan stood at 35.88 million as of Sunday, accounting for 28.4% of the nation’s total population, with both figures hitting record highs, an internal affairs ministry survey showed the same day. The elderly population increased 320,000 from a year earlier.”
4,574 disabled people applied for 248 civil service positions in the Japanese government
“According to the National Personnel Authority, 4,574 applicants applied for the examination, and the proportion by type of disability certificate was 64% for mental illness, 34% for physical disability, and 2% for intellectual disability.”
Documentary film ‘Yi-chan’s White Cane’ highlights disability issues in Japan after Sagamihara
“The documentary film ‘Yi-chan’s White Cane’ shows two decades of a blind woman and her younger brother with a severe disability.”
Typhoon 15: Chiba city opens “welfare evacuation room” for elderly & disabled
“Chiba City has opened a “welfare evacuation room” for the disabled and elderly in the City Harmony Plaza (Chibaji-cho, Chuo-ku).”
On receiving a nice email after (unsuccessfully) applying to be a volunteer at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics
“Barrier Free Japan applied to be a volunteer at the Tokyo 2020 Games. On September 13th, Barrier Free Japan received an email saying the application was unsuccessful. However, the received response, albeit an automated one, was kind of nice.”
Hyogo Gov’t suspends day care service for disabled children over false remuneration claims
“According to the Hyogo Prefectural Government , last year the service claimed a total of 20 days for nine users who actually didn’t use the service, but nonetheless claimed compensation. Takarazuka City requests return of the renumeration based on the Child Welfare Law.”
Former LDP Secretary-General Tanigaki speaks to newly elected disabled lawmakers
“Sadakazu Tanigaki was injured in a wheelchair by a bicycle accident while he was the Secretary General of the LDP, and uses a wheelchair. In the lecture said, “It is a big problem whether there is a place for people with disabilities in society.
Advisory network expanding to guide parents of disabled in Japan
“A network of advisory services to address concerns of parents who worry about becoming sick or dying, and having no way of caring for their physically or mentally disabled children, has been spreading in Japan.”
Legacy of pioneering doctor lives on in communities for disabled
“Set up in 1965, just a year after the 1964 Tokyo Paralympics, Japan Sun Industries has been building communities where the disabled can live independent lives based on the mission of the late Yutaka Nakamura, its founder, to provide opportunities rather than charity.”
Tokyo man arrested for abducting intellectually disabled woman and committing obscene acts
“The suspect is reported to have said, “I thought that a child with intellectual disabilities would come home,” “I can no longer control my feelings about her.””
Sapporo caregiver arrested for alleged injury to resident at disability support facility
“According to the police, at 7:40 pm on August 28, the suspect held and dragged both legs of a 30-year-old man in the facility, bruising and scratching his knees.”
“I strangled my son,” father of disabled son admits at Nagoya District Court
“According to officials, the eldest son had a disability, and the defendant stated at the investigation stage that he “worried about his son’s future”.”
Disability group claims Olympic and Paralympic ticket vendors inaccessible to the blind, violating Organizing Committee Guidelines
“The Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Organizing Committee for 2010 did not create Braille materials explaining how to purchase tickets for the tournament or a CD that provides necessary information by voice. A disability organization argues that it is “in violation of the guidelines for ‘barrier-free’ set by the organizing committee.” ”
Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology seeks review of Pre-Implantation Diagnosis System
“It has so far approved pre-implantation diagnosis, in which genes and chromosomes of eggs fertilized in vitro are examined, for limited cases including serious genetic disorders, due to criticism that the method could lead to the selection of life.”
Osaka Prefecture to follow Tokyo’s example to make hotels ‘barrier free’ for 2025 Expo
“According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, this is approach is following the example set by Tokyo, which is preparing for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics. The policy is to make more detailed regulations that affect the city, such as making public facilities barrier-free.”
Tokyo ordinance to boost barrier-free hotel rooms ahead of Paralympics comes into effect
“It stipulates that standard rooms in hotels and lodgings with renovated, newly or additionally constructed floor space of over 1,000 square meters must provide doorways at least 80 centimeters wide and bathroom entrances that are a minimum 70 cm wide.”
How much progress has been made in efforts to create inclusive society? [Yomiuri Editorial]
“…it is difficult to say that there has been sufficient consideration from the viewpoint of the disabled.”
Eiko Kimura, Diet member and disabled person [Tokyo Shimbun Interview]
“Eiko Kimura, a disabled person who was recently elected to the Japanese parliament’s Upper House was interviewed by The Tokyo Shimbun. Eiko Kimura was born in Yokohama. At the age of eight months, she fell from the entrance and became disabled. After graduating from school, he started living alone in Kunitachi, Tokyo at the age of 19. Kimura established the “Independence Station Tsubasa”, in Tama City, in 1994 to support the independence of persons with disabilities and she is the secretary-general of the organization.”
Japan’s Employment rate of disabled 2.3%, still below legal level as of June
“Japan’s Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry said Wednesday that 17 of 44 government entities saw their numbers of workers with disabilities fall short of necessary levels as of June 1 this year.”
