Category: Barrier Free

by Michael Gillan Peckitt September 15, 2023 2
Barrier Free Disability Japan Relationships Technology

Japan’s free matching app for disabled, supporters marks 10,000 downloads

A free app for people with disabilities and supporters seeking friendship in Japan has achieved 10,000 downloads in two months since its launch in July.

As with other matching tools, users of the “Irodori” app register their own information, such as date of birth and gender, and it has a field to enter whether or not they have a disability. The app has communities where people with similar interests can communicate with each other, and a matching function for men and women. Users’ feedback included, “I have been able to casually talk with people who have similar characteristics to myself.”

by Michael Gillan Peckitt September 6, 2023 3
Barrier Free Disability Japan Osaka Kansai Expo 2025

Osaka Kansai World Expo 2025 Venue to Follow Universal Design Guidelines, have ‘Unity in Diversity’ Theme

Barrier Free Japan contacted the organisers of the ‘Osaka Kansai World Expo 2025’ asking about plans to make the venue, which is in Yumeshima Osaka, accessible to people with disabilities and about possible themes of thew exhibits that might be about people with disabilities. This was the response from the ‘Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition’:

by Michael Gillan Peckitt September 4, 2023 Number of comments0
Barrier Free Deaflympics Disability Japan Podcast

Disability News Japan Podcast: Tokyo 2025 Deaflympics Emblem Unveiled & 90 Year-Old Wheelchair-User Summits Mt. Fuji

Alpinist Yuichiro Miura, 90, reached the summit of Mount Fuji with a group of friends and family on Thursday, having used a wheelchair for the three-day ascent.

With the theme of the “circle” that connects people through the tournament, the design features a hand used in sign language and cherry blossom petals as motifs, and will be widely used in PR for the tournament.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt September 3, 2023 Number of comments0
Barrier Free Disability Japan Nagoya

We need to talk about Accessibility in Nagoya…

I like Nagoya, I have been to Nagoya and as the adage goes, some of my best friends are from Nagoya. However, after reading recent news stories about Nagoya; it is difficult not to conclude that Nagoya ‘has issues’, as I believe the young folk like to say, when it comes to disabilities. As early as 2018 for example, there were concerns about Nagoya Castle possibly becoming inaccessible to people with disabilities. There are also more recent concerns about access to the subway.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt August 29, 2023 Number of comments0
Barrier Free Disability Japan Nagoya Podcast

Disability News Japan Podcast: The Saga of Nagoya Castle’s Accessibility Issues Continues…

A group of legislators with disabilities requested on Aug. 21 that Nagoya Mayor Takashi Kawamura consider installing an elevator going up to Nagoya Castle’s top floor, as the city aims to replace the current reinforced concrete castle keep with a wooden structure true to the building’s roots.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt June 15, 2023 Number of comments0
Barrier Free Disability Japan Nagoya Tourism

Wheelchair User Told to “Be Patient” at Public Meeting about ‘Barrier Free’ Access to Nagoya Castle

At the citizens’ debate on June 3rd, where the theme was barrier-free access, a man in a wheelchair expressed his opinion, calling for the installation of an elevator (EV) to the top floor of the castle tower. In response, other participants who were in favor of not requiring EVs used discriminatory expressions that insulted the physically disabled, and countered with comments such as “Be patient” and “You are being too impudent.” This comment was followed by applause from some in the audience.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt June 8, 2023 Number of comments0
Barrier Free Japan Nagoya Tourism

Nagoya Castle ‘Hate Speech and Barrier Free Debacle’: A Timeline

Nagoya Castle ‘Hate Speech and Barrier Free Debacle’: A Timeline At a public debate held on June 3rd regarding barrier-free measures when restoring the wooden castle tower of Nagoya Castle, some participants said that an elevator that can go up to the top floor, which groups for the disabled and others are calling for, is unnecessary. Some were claiming that this was a discriminatory remark that made fun of people with disabilities. The restoration of Nagoya Castle has been debated since May 2018 when a proposal that the castle be rebuilt without an elevator – or other ‘accommodations’ for people with disabilities – prompting disability rights groups to write to Nagoya Mayor Takashi Kawamura urging him to rethink the restoration plan.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt June 5, 2023 4
Barrier Free Japan Nagoya Tourism

Nagoya Mayor apologizes for discriminatory remarks by some participants in ‘Barrier-Free Castle debate’ toward people with disabilities

Mayor Kawamura is concerned that some participants made discriminatory remarks against people with disabilities at a public debate held on June 3rd regarding barrier-free measures for the Nagoya Castle tower, which the city of Nagoya is aiming to restore as a wooden structure. He apologized, saying that he should have called attention to it when speaking.