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.
Category: Disability
Deregulation for prenatal genetic screening in Japan needs further scrutiny [Asahi Shimbun Editorial]
“This raises the grave concern that undergoing such screenings could become “a matter of course” and may well result in “overly casual” decisions concerning the fate of fetuses with irregularities.”
Japan’s private obstetricians and gynecologists to be allowed to conduct prenatal tests to detect possible chromosome abnormalities
“The Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology’s (JSOG) executive board has decided to allow obstetrician-gynecologists who run their own private practices to conduct blood tests on pregnant women to detect possible chromosome abnormalities such as Down syndrome in their babies.”
Japan to compensate thousands for trauma of forced sterilisation policy
“Speaking at a protest meeting in December, Takaji Kobayashi claimed he was forcibly sterilised because of a hearing impairment. His wife, Kimiko, who also has a hearing disorder, was coerced into having an abortion and being sterilised…”
Interview with Hirotada Ototake [Video in Japanese with English subtitles]
“Asian Boss’s reporter Hiroko asks Hirotada Otatake about his childhood, and what sort of experiences he had growing up.”
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.”
Kobe resident with cerebral palsy, Yumi Suzuki, files civil lawsuit over forced sterilization
“Yumi Suzuki, a woman with cerebral palsy, who is now 63 years old, filed a civil law suit at the Kobe District Court on Wednesday February 27th seeking compensation of 11 million yen for violations she experienced under the former Eugenic Protection Law, which was a law enforced in Japan from 1948 until 1996.
Bus driver refuses ride to passenger in wheelchair
“The driver told the company he regrets “making the wrong decision,” according to a Matsudo Shin-Keisei Bus official.”
Kids’ cafeteria serves up meals, smiles while helping mentally ill
“The group “Aoitori” (“Bluebird”) has been running a free meal service called “Kishiwada Kodomo Shokudo” every fourth Saturday of the month to help children and other people in need, supporting patients who are hospitalized for lengthy periods in psychiatric wards, and making radio appearances to address various concerns.”
Japan to ease language requirements for foreign nursing care trainees
“The Japanese government plans to ease language requirements for foreign technical interns to work in the nursing care business as part of efforts to bring in more laborers from abroad…”
Barrier Free Japan 