Strain on medical and care systems leads Japan to extend state of emergency
While new COVID-19 cases are on the decline in the 19 prefectures, medical systems are still burdened there, government officials said.
Author: Michael Gillan Peckitt
UK & CP born, living in Japan, blogging about disability
Tokyo Games Organizing Committee President says Games not: “a 100% success, but I think we’ve cleared a certain bar”
This summer’s Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games satisfied certain standards despite the coronavirus pandemic, Seiko Hashimoto, president of the Tokyo Games organizing committee, indicated Monday.
17 new coronavirus infections found in Gunma Prefecture at facility for the disabled in Takasaki City
Takasaki City announced on September 7 that 17 people, including residents and staff at a facility for the people with disabilities, were confirmed as infected with the coronavirus.
Tokyo 2020 Athletes village closes after 323 coronavirus infections during Paralympics
A total of 323 coronavirus infections were recorded during the Tokyo Paralympics, the games’ organizing committee announced Wednesday, the same day the athletes’ village officially closed.
NHK lauded for deaf interpreter use in Tokyo Games ceremony broadcasts
Broadcast via NHK’s educational channel, the deaf interpreters, for whom sign language is their first language, were able to convey more detailed and nuanced coverage of the Olympic closing ceremony and Paralympic opening ceremony by communicating information provided to them by signers who can hear.
Former Aichi facility worker sentenced to three years for assaulting people with intellectual disabilities
Defendant Mizuno apologized in the final statement, crying, “I never hated the residents and I don’t know why I did that.”
In preparation for the ultimately spectator-less Paralympics, Japan’s hotels made efforts toward more accessible facilities
Hotel Kazusaya in Nihombashi, Tokyo, reopened in summer last year following a major refurbishment carried out in sync with the original schedule of the 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games. The doorways of its guest rooms have been resized to 85 centimeters wide. At the stage of planning, the doorway width was set at 75 centimeters. But in 2019, the Tokyo metropolitan government amended its relevant ordinance for hotels. Under the new standard, the doorways of rooms in newly built hotels or newly added facilities must be “a minimum of 80 centimeters in breadth,” so that wheelchairs can get through the doorway easily.
Hurdles remain for young Japanese people with disabilities who want to play sport as percentage participating falls
The share of Japanese people with disabilities aged 7 to 19 who routinely engage in sports fell to 27.9 pct in 2020 from 30.7 pct in 2013.
Lack of time on Japanese TV spoils Tokyo Paralympics big opportunity
The more popular sports like athletics and swimming were broadcast live, starting with the qualification rounds, during the Aug. 24-Sept. 5 games, but niche sports without Japanese medal contenders like powerlifting and taekwondo were absent.
Tokyo Paralympic athletes praise experience but public mixed
“It’s been different. It’s not been the same games that we were used to,” said British wheelchair tennis player Jordanne Whiley, who was competing in her fourth Paralympics.
Barrier Free Japan 