Category: Politics

by Michael Gillan Peckitt February 17, 2023 Number of comments0
Disability Discrimination Japan Politics

At least 9 towns and villages in Hokkaido ban people with mental and intellectual disabilities from attending council meetings

A survey by the Hokkaido prefectural government found that there are at least nine towns and villages in the prefecture that prohibit people with intellectual disabilities from sitting on the council through bylaws or regulations. The prefectural is calling for action, such as considering amendments to the ‘Act for the Elimination of Disability Discrimination’, on the grounds that this may be in violation of the Act.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt December 4, 2022 Number of comments0
Disability Japan Politics

LDP minister to apologize over derogatory remarks made about LGBT and people with disabilities

At the Budget Committee meeting, Daisuke Tenbata, an Upper House member of the opposition party Reiwa Shinsengumi, said Mio Sugita’s comments reflect a bygone era of a totalitarian government that sought to ostracize people with disabilities and homosexuals as a worthless existence in society. Tenbata is disabled and uses a wheelchair.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt October 30, 2022 Number of comments0
Disability Japan Politics

Former Japanese Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori Causes Controversy With Comments About Walking Canes

Former Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori (85) gave a speech at a ceremony held in Kanazawa City on 29th October to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the founding of Kanazawa Medical University, where he mentioned that he uses a walking stick and said: ‘When I use a stick, I look like a disabled person and people take good care of me. The comment could be seen as an attempt to ridicule the disabled and is likely to cause controversy.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt January 11, 2022 Number of comments0
Barrier Free Japan Politics Reiwa Shinsengumi

“We will connect to a Diet where various parties can work comfortably”: Japanese parliamentarians on being a politician with a disability

Masako Okawara (68), a member of the House of Representatives and a member of the Constitutional Democratic Party who uses a wheelchair; as well as Eiko Kimura (56) & and Yasuhiko Funago (64), whom are in the House of Councilors and are members of Reiwa Shinsengumi, were asked by The Tokyo Shimbun about what it is like to work in the Diet with a disability.