Japan on Tuesday defeated powerhouse South Korea on the first day of mixed gender boccia events at the Paris Paralympics to advance to the BC1\BC2 quarterfinals.
The team got off to a three-point lead in the three-a-side wheelchair event before the South Koreans briefly recovered to tie the match, only for Japan to score two more times to win 5-3 at South Paris Arena.
Japan won its first Paralympic gold medal in wheelchair rugby Monday after seeing off the United States 48-41 in Paris, with the nation adding two badminton gold on the day to make it five total at the ongoing games.
The Chunichi Shimbun reported that on August 30th, businessman Hiroyuki Nishimura (47), known as “Hiroyuki”, updated his X (formerly Twitter), giving his personal opinion regarding Nippon Television’s “24-hour TV”, which began its broadcast on August 31st.
Posting about the Paralympics, “Hiroyuki” said:
“If they’re going to deal with people with disabilities on 24-hour TV, they should broadcast the Paralympics…”, referring to the Paris Paralympics that began on the 28th.
The Japanese government will promote a “new perception of dementia” to offer hope to those living with the syndrome, according to a draft plan presented Monday. The plan, which incorporates opinions from dementia sufferers, sets four priority targets, including utilizing new insights and technologies, and calls on local governments to draw up their own plans for helping people with dementia. It is expected to be approved by the cabinet in autumn.
In 1977, large-scale protests were held over the public bus operator’s refusal to allow people in wheelchairs with cerebral palsy to board, which became known as the “Kawasaki bus struggle.” This became an impetus for the progression of rights for those with disabilities.
Hiroyuki Nishimura (47), known as “Hiroyuki”, updated his X (formerly Twitter), giving his personal opinion regarding Nippon Television’s “24-hour TV”, which began its broadcast on August 31st.
“If they’re going to deal with people with disabilities on 24-hour TV, they should broadcast the Paralympics…”, referring to the Paris Paralympics that began on the 28th.
In August, a physically disabled man (53) was denied boarding a Kawasaki City bus because he was refused use of the disability certificate app on his smartphone. The city has approved the use of the app, and the man claims he was “unfairly refused boarding.” The city apologized to the man, saying “the driver was not aware of the problem.” While the use of information and communication technology (ICT) is progressing, the situation shows that operators are lagging behind in their understanding.
In March 2024, a Chinese student in Fukushima Ward in Osaka City was stopped by the police for using an ‘electric suitcase’ on the sidewalk. Since the woman’s suitcase could reach a maximum speed of 13 kph, the police classified the luggage as a motorized bicycle after noting that it has all the traits of a vehicle, therefore using such an ‘electric suitcase’ would be a potential violation of the Road Traffic Law and the Prefectural police referred the woman to prosecutors on suspicion of violating that law. This is the first time such a case has been sent to the prosecutors. However, if ‘electric suitcases’ “do not meet public safety standards” perhaps electric wheelchairs do not either, and denying electric wheelchairs on the sidewalk would deny many elderly and people with disabilities access to the world outside their home.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida instructed Ayuko Kato, minister in charge of child policy, to set up a meeting between him and the plaintiffs this month, Kato told reporters after she met with Kishida at the prime minister’s office. Kato met with the plaintiffs on Thursday.
The documentary film ‘Mark – A Call to Action’ about the late Dr. Mark Bookman, Tokyo based disability studies scholar and advocate will be released on DVD in October 2024.
So far, Suzuki has developed 11 free iPhone apps to help Japan’s aging population, including his latest: a slideshow of items to remember when leaving the house, from a wallet and hearing aids to patient registration cards.
Taro Igarashi is the author of “Kabobi Toshi” or “Overprotective city” published 20 years ago and in a recent interview with The Asahi Shimbun Igarashi warns how phenomena such as ‘hostile benches’ – benches, often installed in public parks that are uncomfortable to sit on – are designed in way to discourage people from using them, that they have an “exclusionary purpose” which “has long been forgotten.”
Barrier Free Japan