Japan’s Upper House begins renovations to accommodate newly elected disabled lawmakers
From Kyodo & Jiji via The Japan Times July 28th 2019 The Upper House on Sunday started renovation work forContinue Reading
Category: Barrier Free
“Until this point, no one had thought that people with severe physical disabilities would become politicians”: Japan’s Diet to become barrier-free after election of disabled candidates
“ ”Until this point, no one had thought that people with severe physical disabilities would become politicians.” ”
Hotels slow to introduce Barrier-Free rooms for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics
“Hotel operators in Tokyo have been slow to respond to the calls from the Japanese and Tokyo metropolitan governments to step up the introduction of barrier-free guest rooms ahead of the 2020 Olympics and Paralympics in the Japanese capital, leading to complaints by some wheelchair users that there are not enough rooms they can use. Keio Plaza Hotel in Shinjuku, central Tokyo, is one exception.”
At G-20 dinner, Prime Minister Abe calls installing elevators at Osaka Castle a ‘big mistake’ [A ‘Disability News Japan’ Podcast]
“A remark made by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe during a Group of 20 dinner that the installation of elevators at Osaka Castle was a “big mistake” has been criticized as lacking consideration for disabled people and especially inappropriate ahead of the Tokyo Paralympics next year.”
At G-20 Summit dinner, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe says installing elevators at Osaka Castle a “big mistake”
“Although Osaka Castle was mostly destroyed by fire due to chaos caused by the Meiji Restoration 150 years ago, the tenshukaku (the tallest tower) was faithfully restored about 90 years ago to how it was in the 16th century,” Abe said at the dinner he hosted Friday as chairman of the G-20 summit in Osaka. “But they made only one big mistake — they went so far as to install elevators.”
Japan’s Health Ministry to tout companies that promote employment of disabled
“Japan’s Health Ministry will accredit small and mid-size companies that actively work to incorporate people with disabilities into their workplaces, under its new recognition system related to employment of the disabled people. Criteria for accreditation include barrier-free access to a company’s facilities, such as setting up slopes; the creation of jobs that utilize disabled people’s abilities; and the creation of an employment plan to promote disabled people’s active job involvement. Companies with up to 300 employees will be eligible for accreditation.”
Attention! There are only stairs at JR Shibuya (unless you take the South Ticket Gate)
By Barrier Free Japan March 7th 2019 Here are some images and videos from my recent visit to Tokyo.
Barrier-free tourism gaining traction in aging Japan
“Universal tourism, or tourism accessible to all people regardless of age, nationality, disability and other factors that may discourage leisurely travel, is starting to gain wider recognition in graying Japan.”
Disability group claims width mandated by Tokyo accessibility ordinance insufficient for wheelchairs
“In the group’s tests, which looked into whether wheelchair users could enter the bathroom without making contact with walls, most motorized wheelchairs failed while all the manual wheelchairs passed.”
Takarazuka City Mayor introduces ‘barrier free’ language for municipal documents
“The regular meeting of the Takarazuka City Council of Hyogo Prefecture was held on 15th, Mayor Nakagawa Tomoko announced in the administration policy speech of the plenary, “To promote the barrier of the mind”, “Opinion” in the official documents created by the city from April To change the notation of “disability” It was said that there are no cases of using “disability” in municipal documents of the municipal nation in the whole country.”
Barrier Free Japan 