At Awards Ceremony Recognizing Barrier Free Initiatives, PM Takaichi Says She Aims for an “inclusive society”

By Barrier Free Japan

January 3 2026

TOKYO – On December 24th 2025, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi pledged to further advance barrier-free policies, saying Japan aims to build an inclusive society in which all people can live with dignity regardless of whether they have disabilities.

Speaking at an award ceremony recognizing contributions to the promotion of barrier-free and universal design initiatives, Takaichi said:

“The society we aim for is an “inclusive society” in which all people, regardless of whether they have a disability or not, respect each other’s human rights and dignity, support each other, and are able to enjoy vibrant lives.”

The prime minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to realizing a truly inclusive society by implementing measures under the amended Barrier-Free Act, which took effect in June, and by promoting so-called “mental barrier-free” efforts aimed at improving public awareness and attitudes; and said the government will continue advancing policies based on the revised law and an action plan adopted late last year.

The awards honour initiatives supporting areas such as mobility, communication, child-rearing, and access to culture and sports, reflecting the growing role of universal design in Japan.