Despite Half of Commuters with Disabilities Experiencing Problems Using Trains in Japan, Only 10% of People with Mental Disabilities Request Reasonable Accommodation

From The Fukushi Shimbun

May 23 2025

JAPAN – Half of people with mental disabilities or developmental disabilities in Japan have experienced problems using trains, but only 10% have requested reasonable accommodation from train staff, according to a survey conducted by the mental disability group Polke on May 2nd.

The revised Act on the Elimination of Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities, which came into force in April 2024, requires private businesses, including trains, to provide reasonable accommodation, but the survey report points out that only 10% of people have requested reasonable accommodation, which is a “very serious problem.” It recommended that training for disabled people’s organizations and train staff to learn together needs to be improved.

The survey was conducted online from December 2012 to January this year. 357 valid responses were received from 42 prefectures.

According to the survey, 175 people (49%) said they had experienced problems using trains. The issues were due to the characteristics of their disabilities, such as “I hyperventilate when it’s crowded” and “I get tired easily but there are no benches,” and it was found that alleviating congestion on trains and securing rest spaces are issues.

Meanwhile, 40 people (11.2%) asked for reasonable accommodation. One person said, “I was allowed to rest in the medical room,” but 49 people (13.7%) did not ask for accommodation even if they wanted to, for reasons such as “explaining it would be a burden.”

Reasonable accommodation refers to environmental adjustments in individual, specific situations, and private operators must also comply with them as long as it does not cause excessive burden.

Those who ask for accommodation also feel guilty because they “don’t know how much to ask” and “it’s a hassle if they are refused,” so the report states that both good hospitality from railway staff and the provision of information and space are important.