Discriminatory Comments Over Nagoya Castle Accessibility Towards Wheelchair User Prompts Mayor to Apologize

By Barrier Free Japan

August 8 2025

Nagoya City, Aichi Pref– On August 8 Nagoya Mayor Ichiro Hirosawa issued a public apology during a meeting with disability organizations, acknowledging that “those directly affected, as well as many others, were hurt” by discriminatory comments made at a previous city forum on barrier-free access to Nagoya Castle’s main keep.

The incident traces back to a June 2023 public discussion organized by the city as part of its plan to reconstruct the main keep of Nagoya Castle in wood. During the meeting, a wheelchair user asked for an elevator to be included in the design. Several attendees responded with offensive remarks, telling the person to “endure it,” warning them not to “confuse equality with selfishness,” and even using a derogatory term for disabled people. Some in the audience applauded the comments. Takashi Kawamura, whom was mayor at the time and other city officials were present but did not step in, a lack of action that fueled public backlash from disability rights advocates. Kawamura later expressed regret and committed to staff training, outreach to disability groups, and steps to avoid a repeat of such incidents.

Following a city-led review, Mayor Hirosawa announced in May this year that employees would receive human rights awareness training, that formal apologies would be made to disability organizations, and that preventive measures would be outlined.

At the August 8 meeting, Hirosawa reiterated his apology, saying, “I deeply regret causing harm to those directly involved and to many others, and for damaging trust.” City representatives detailed the new prevention measures, while attendees urged the inclusion of disabled people’s perspectives in the reconstruction plan.

Nagoya City plans to continue discussions with disability groups, finalize its policy on barrier-free design, and move forward with the castle restoration. Speaking to the press afterward, Hirosawa said, “Today marks the starting line. We aim to advance a plan that reconciles historical authenticity with accessibility.”