Category: Barrier Free

by Michael Gillan Peckitt January 27, 2024 1
Barrier Free Disability Japan Travel

Scanning Errors: QR Codes Encroach on Barrier Free Travel in Japan

The photograph shows my local train station in Kobe. The station itself is quite accessible to a person with disabilities like myself. However, there is one small problem when one enters the station, because those who enter the station, enter what I like to call an ‘empire of QR codes’. ‘But isn’t that ok, maybe even accessible’ I hear you say? But, I find it difficult to hold my body still for a lengthy period of time because it spasms, it took me more than ten minutes to take this photo, imagine how much time it would take for me to scan a QR code.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt December 29, 2023 Number of comments0
Barrier Free Disability Discrimination Elderly Nagoya Podcast

Disability News Japan Podcast: At Nagoya Castle Debate Wheelchair User Told “Don’t confuse equality with your selfishness”

After more than 400 years, the iconic Nagoya Castle is under siege, this time by those wanting to make it more accessible to wheelchair-users and those who are determined to keep it as original as possible.

At a town hall meeting on the planned reconstruction of the castle here on June 3, a man scolded a wheelchair-user.

“Don’t confuse equality with your selfishness,” the man said. “How dare you be so selfish.”

by Michael Gillan Peckitt December 29, 2023 2
Barrier Free Disability Japan Nagoya

Disabled people seeking an accessible Nagoya Castle to be enjoyed by all called “selfish” as ‘history vs accessibility’ debate continues

After more than 400 years, the iconic Nagoya Castle is under siege, this time by those wanting to make it more accessible to wheelchair-users and those who are determined to keep it as original as possible.

At a town hall meeting on the planned reconstruction of the castle here on June 3, a man scolded a wheelchair-user.

“Don’t confuse equality with your selfishness,” the man said. “How dare you be so selfish.”

by Michael Gillan Peckitt December 27, 2023 Number of comments0
Barrier Free Disability Japan Tourism

Ryokan pulls no punches when it comes to guests with disabilities

A ryokan at the Ikaho Onsen hot springs resort in Gunma Prefecture has a solid history of caring about guests with disabilities.

Back in the 1990s, a guest at the traditional Japanese-style inn started complaining vociferously in the hotel’s bathhouse after finding it soiled by disabled guests.

Tomoko Matsumoto, now 80, was the inn’s proprietress at the time. She apologized profusely to the irate guest, bowing over and over.
But the guest could not be appeased, and even started suggesting the disabled guests should have been refused admittance to the ryokan in the first place.

That was the last straw for Matsumoto. She told the guest: “I want you to move to another ryokan. But these (disabled) people have nowhere else to go. This is the only ryokan they can stay at.”

Back then, few inns were wheelchair-accessible and able to openly welcome patrons with disabilities.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt December 24, 2023 Number of comments0
Barrier Free Disability 障害 Japan Kyoto

JR京都のバリアフリートイレは永久に「使えない」らしい

JR京都駅の「バリアフリー・トイレ」のひとつが、何週間も「故障中」もしくは「使用不可」になっている。

障がい者や子ども連れの人たちがJR京都駅のトイレを利用できる日は来るのだろうか？何週間も「故障中」（人々が散らかしすぎたり、喫煙やその他の行為に使用したりするため、より正確には「閉鎖中」なのかもしれない）なのだ。

by Michael Gillan Peckitt December 19, 2023 Number of comments0
Barrier Free Disability Discrimination Japan Nagoya Podcast

Disability News Japan Podcast: Citizens Debate Held Over Restoration of Nagoya Castle and Discriminatory Remarks Towards Disabled

On December 18th, the Nagoya City Citizen Debate Committee held its fourth meeting on the issue of discriminatory comments made against disabled people during a citizens’ debate on the Nagoya Castle wooden restoration project. The city presented a draft of the interim report, which it aims to publish by the end of the year, and the committee members expressed their opinions. The meeting was closed to the public.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt December 18, 2023 1
Barrier Free Disability Discrimination Japan Nagoya

Citizens Debate Held Regarding Restoration of Nagoya Castle and Discriminatory Remarks Against Disabled

On December 18th, the Nagoya City Citizen Debate Committee held its fourth meeting on the issue of discriminatory comments made against disabled people during a citizens’ debate on the Nagoya Castle wooden restoration project. The city presented a draft of the interim report, which it aims to publish by the end of the year, and the committee members expressed their opinions. The meeting was closed to the public.