Sapporo apologizes for lack of consultation before disability driver’s license subsidy cut

From The Yomiuri Shimbun via Yahoo! Japan

July 28 2026

Sapporo, Hokkaido – It has emerged that Sapporo City has informed disability organisations that it is “impossible” to reverse its decision to abolish, from April, a subsidy of up to ¥100,000 for people with physical disabilities to obtain a driver’s licence, after the city eliminated the programme without first consulting those affected.

While refusing to reinstate the subsidy, the city apologised for failing to hold consultations in advance and stated that, if it considers similar cuts in the future, it will seek the views of affected parties beforehand.

The request to reverse the cuts was submitted in May by the disability advocacy organisation DPI Hokkaido Block Conference. The city responded in writing and met with representatives of the group on the 27th to explain its position.

According to the city’s explanation at the meeting, the subsidy was abolished because of financial difficulties. Together with a reduction, introduced at the same time, in the maximum subsidy available for modifying vehicles for use by people with disabilities, the cuts are expected to save only several million yen. The city acknowledged that, compared with its overall budget, this amounted to little more than “a rounding error.” However, it argued that its financial circumstances required even relatively small savings and asked for understanding, describing the decision as “an extremely difficult choice.”

Regarding the decision to make the cuts without consulting disability organisations, Jun Kikuta, head of Sapporo City’s Disability Welfare Division, said there “wasn’t enough time,” but added, “We should have held consultations. I sincerely apologise.”

DPI has expressed concern that the cuts will further restrict the mobility of wheelchair users during the winter months, when snow and ice already make travel difficult. Megumi Yamazaki, the organisation’s secretary-general, said, “There’s nothing more we can do about these particular cuts, but in future we want the city to engage in careful consultations with those who will be affected, regardless of whether the proposed changes are large or small.”