Category: Barrier Free

by Michael Gillan Peckitt October 1, 2026 Number of comments0
Barrier Free Discrimination Housing Japan Podcast

People with Disabilities in Fukuoka Face Rental Housing Woes [Podcast Episode]

A survey by the Fukuoka City-based group Association to Eliminate Discrimination against People with Disabilities in Fukuoka City found that one in 10 respondents with disabilities or their family members had been refused when looking for private rental housing.

Some respondents said they had been turned away because of their disability. Experts say such cases could constitute “unjust discriminatory treatment,” which is prohibited under Japan’s Act for Eliminating Discrimination against People with Disabilities. The survey was conducted from December last year through March this year through the group’s 20 member organizations and other channels.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt September 30, 2026 1
Barrier Free Disability Discrimination Housing Japan

Survey finds one in ten people with disabilities denied private rental housing in Fukuoka

Some respondents said they had been turned away because of their disability. Experts say such cases could constitute “unjust discriminatory treatment,” which is prohibited under Japan’s Act for Eliminating Discrimination against People with Disabilities. The survey was conducted from December last year through March this year through the group’s 20 member organizations and other channels.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt September 21, 2026 Number of comments0
Barrier Free Disability Elderly Japan Wheelchair

Elderly Warned of Accidents Involving Nursing Beds, Wheelchairs

Ahead of Respect for the Aged Day in Japan on Monday, the National Institute of Technology and Evaluation warned of accidents involving nursing beds or wheelchairs and urged elderly people to review proper usage with their families and care workers. According to NITE, there were 43 nursing bed accidents affecting elderly people between 2016 and 2025, including 23 cases in which users’ bodies were caught in handrail and other gaps.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt September 8, 2026 Number of comments0
Barrier Free Crime Disability Japan

Wheelchair-Using Victim after Attempted Murder Demands Statute of Limitations Removal

A victim of attempted murder in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, central Japan, in 2002 and his wife are advocating for the removal of the statute of limitations on such crimes. The country abolished the statute of limitations for heinous crimes such as murder through law amendments in 2010. Still, the revisions do not cover attempted murder. “Would it have been better if I had died?” said Yoshitaka Yasuda, 61, who was left severely disabled in the 2002 case.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt August 29, 2026 1
Barrier Free Blind Disability Human Rights Japan

Japan’s Supreme Court refuses damages to visually impaired couple over police entry

The Supreme Court’s Third Petty Bench, presided over by Justice Masami Okino, has rejected an appeal by a visually impaired couple who sued Kanagawa Prefecture for damages, arguing that police officers who responded to an emergency call unlawfully entered their home without their consent. The decision was dated the 26th. The ruling by the Tokyo High Court, which had rejected the couple’s claim, is now final. The High Court found that the couple had consented to the officers entering their home and overturned a March 2024 ruling by the Yokohama District Court, which had ordered the prefecture to pay the couple ¥275,000 in damages.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt August 24, 2026 1
Autism Barrier Free Disability Employment Japan

76% Don’t Disclose Disabilities or Diagnoses During Job Hunting, Nippon Foundation Survey Finds

A Nippon Foundation survey found on the 23rd that 76.5% of people diagnosed with developmental disorders such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), or with mental illnesses, said they had never disclosed their diagnosis during their job search. The main reason was concern that doing so would put them at a disadvantage, such as being rejected for a job. The survey targeted people who did not have a disability certificate and had sought employment through standard recruitment channels.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt August 19, 2026 Number of comments0
Barrier Free Disability Discrimination Japan Nagoya Podcast

Nagoya Castle Accessibility Debacle Continues [Podcast Episode]

Regarding the wooden reconstruction of the Nagoya Castle keep, Nagoya City is aiming to install a vertical lifting device, while disability organizations are calling for the installation of a large elevator. The two sides remain at odds, but Nagoya City says it hopes to present an overall plan for accessibility, including the lifting equipment, by February 2027.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt August 18, 2026 1
Barrier Free Disability Discrimination Japan Nagoya

Individual interviews with organizations representing people with disabilities regarding Nagoya Castle reconstruction begin

Regarding the wooden reconstruction of the Nagoya Castle keep, Nagoya City is aiming to install a vertical lifting device, while disability organizations are calling for the installation of a large elevator. The two sides remain at odds, but Nagoya City says it hopes to present an overall plan for accessibility, including the lifting equipment, by February 2027.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt August 14, 2026 Number of comments0
Barrier Free Disability Discrimination Japan Podcast Travel

Written Warning Issued to ‘Hanshin Bus’ After Electric Wheelchair User Refused Boarding [Podcast Episode]

According to the bureau, at around 4:30 p.m. on May 19, a woman using an electric wheelchair attempted to board a bus at the Higashinada Ward Office bus stop in Kobe’s Higashinada Ward. The driver refused her request, citing overcrowding. In fact, only the front part of the bus was crowded, and the bureau determined that the driver had failed to assess the situation properly or ask other passengers for their cooperation.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt August 13, 2026 1
Barrier Free Disability Discrimination Hyogo Japan Travel

Written Warning Issued to ‘Hanshin Bus’ After Electric Wheelchair User Refused Boarding

According to the bureau, at around 4:30 p.m. on May 19, a woman using an electric wheelchair attempted to board a bus at the Higashinada Ward Office bus stop in Kobe’s Higashinada Ward. The driver refused her request, citing overcrowding. In fact, only the front part of the bus was crowded, and the bureau determined that the driver had failed to assess the situation properly or ask other passengers for their cooperation.