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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
From Kyodo via The Japan Times, Barrier Free Japan January 8 2023 NAGOYA – The Nagoya Municipal Government hoped toContinue Reading
At first, elevators were not included in the reconstruction plan pushed by Nagoya Mayor Takashi Kawamura, who insisted that the rebuilt castle should be as faithful to the original as possible. However, the plan has faced opposition from disabled people’s groups and others.
“Nagoya city has a policy not to install an elevator in the new castle tower, and will use the model to demonstrate the barrier-free measures provided by the new technology.”
“Although there is great significance to restoring the tower to its original condition, making buildings accessible to people with disabilities, among others, is appropriate for the era we are in. It is essential to accommodate the wishes of various people while seeking to preserve the keep’s historic value. Efforts should be made to find common ground.”
Barrier Free Japan