Category: Barrier Free

by Michael Gillan Peckitt November 29, 2020 1
Barrier Free Blind Disability Japan Travel

“A platform door was installed at the station to prevent falling, but the door remained open”: Visually impaired man falls and dies at Toyocho Station

Around 12:45 on the afternoon of 29th November, a man fell from his platform at Toyocho Station on the Tokyo Metro Tozai Line in Toyo 4, Koto-ku, Tokyo, and collided with a train (10-car train) from Nakano to Nishi-Funabashi. The man, believed to be visually impaired in his 60s living in Edogawa Ward, was taken to a hospital, but was soon confirmed dead. A platform door was installed at the station to prevent it from falling, but the door remained open before the start of operation.


by Michael Gillan Peckitt November 9, 2020 1
Barrier Free Disability Japan Unmanned Stations

“Unmanned” train stations continues to pose problems for people with disabilities in Japan

“The number of “unmanned stations” without station staff all day long has risen to more than 4,500 stations, which is close to half of the stations nationwide, and is still increasing.
Under such circumstances, there are issues such as assistance to people with disabilities, so the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism has set up a study group and started discussions for improvement.”

by Michael Gillan Peckitt July 12, 2020 Number of comments0
Barrier Free Disability Elderly Japan

Japan supermarket starts ‘Slow Register’ checkout lane for elderly, disabled

The “Slow Register” campaign was proposed by Kaori Abe, 53, who runs a city-based nonprofit organization that supports elderlies and people with disabilities. The idea came after older people would often tell her things like, “I take time to take out cash from my wallet, and feel pressured if a line has formed behind me,” and, “I get hesitant to go shopping after people in the line behind me show their irritation.” It’s the first initiative of its kind in the Kyushu region, according to Abe.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt June 17, 2020 Number of comments0
Barrier Free Disability Japan

What is a ‘Barrier Free Mind’?

The government newly presented measures for not only hard aspects but also soft aspects with the revision of the law for 18 years, and announced the promotion of “barrier-free mind”. It encourages municipalities to create and provide barrier-free maps that show the location of slopes and toilets for people with disabilities in the city, and requests business operators to train staff.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt February 25, 2020
Barrier Free Disability Japan Kobe Welfare

After previous infractions, Hyogo Prefecture disability group files petition over disability parking spaces

“We want you to educate the government so that people who need support can use it. With this in mind, a group of persons with disabilities in Sanda City, Hyogo Prefecture, applied for a petition to the city council, but the adoption was banned by the Standing Committee of the City Council Welfare Education on February 20th. In response to the imprisonment of a disabled person in 2018, Sanda City advocated the development of a symbiotic town, but did not conduct a fact-finding survey based on requests from the organization.”