Author: Michael Gillan Peckitt

UK & CP born, living in Japan, blogging about disability
Disability Japan Politics Reiwa Shinsengumi

Japanese political party ‘Reiwa Shinsengumi’ with two elected members with disabilities, in conflict over use of the term ‘selecting lives’

“Selecting lives,” this word revives the unavoidable fear that I have had since I was a child, that I may be killed. I was very sad. It seems that my 35 years of fighting against discrimination in the community were denied, and I was very disappointed and could not control my anger.

Barrier Free Disability Elderly Japan

Japan supermarket starts ‘Slow Register’ checkout lane for elderly, disabled

The “Slow Register” campaign was proposed by Kaori Abe, 53, who runs a city-based nonprofit organization that supports elderlies and people with disabilities. The idea came after older people would often tell her things like, “I take time to take out cash from my wallet, and feel pressured if a line has formed behind me,” and, “I get hesitant to go shopping after people in the line behind me show their irritation.” It’s the first initiative of its kind in the Kyushu region, according to Abe.

Disability

After Upper House election in Japan, a prototype wheelchair accessible slope is showcased to the press

On July 7th, the Japanese Government’s Upper House set up a prototype wheelchair-accessible slope on the podium at the main conference hall and made it available to the press. Such efforts are a part of the barrier-free efforts to accommodate an elected official of The House of Councillors,Yasuhiko Funago, who belongs to the political party Reiwa Shinsengumi.