Tag - barrier-free

 
 

BARRIER FREE

A Sapporo municipal official uses a telephone relay service at the city office in April last year.
JAPAN / Society
Mar 14, 2024
Phone relay service helps hard of hearing government staff
The service facilitates communication for workers hard of hearing and those with speech impediments by connecting them with operators online.
Japan's revised law on eliminating discrimination against people with disabilities is scheduled to take effect in April.
JAPAN
Mar 7, 2024
Websites in Japan becoming more friendly to people with disabilities
Japan's revised law on eliminating discrimination against people with disabilities is scheduled to take effect in April.
Diagnosed at a young age with a rare variant of glycogen storage disease type IV, Mark Bookman went on to distinguish himself in academia in both the United States and Japan.
COMMUNITY / Issues / The Foreign Element
Feb 19, 2024
New film honors life and legacy of disability pioneer Mark Bookman
Free screenings of THE new documentary on Japan-based disability rights advocate Mark Bookman will be held around Tokyo on Feb. 24, 25 and 27.
Hiroko Higashino, who was born with three fingers on her right hand, plays an AI-powered piano during a rehearsal for a Christmas concert in Tokyo on Wednesday.
JAPAN
Dec 23, 2023
AI-assisted piano allows disabled Tokyo musicians to perform Beethoven
To assist players, the Anybody's Piano tracks the notes of the music and augments the performance by adding whatever keys are needed but not pressed.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Voices / FOREIGN AGENDA
May 22, 2023
Filling in the cracks: Japan’s shifting perspective on disability employment
The Valuable 500's Crosby Cromwell discusses best practice regarding disability in business in Japan, and she is optimistic about the direction we are heading in.
Japan Times
PARALYMPICS
Apr 27, 2023
Para-athlete in Paris urges city to improve transportation system before 2024 Games
On the platform of a train station in the Paris suburbs, 25-year-old para-athlete Manel Senni braced for another daily odyssey in her wheelchair to go to basketball practice.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Mar 28, 2023
Japan to limit use of parking spots for wheelchair users
In some areas, such parking slots have sometimes not been available to the intended users after the range of people allowed to use them was expanded.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Mar 21, 2023
Hiroshima City Museum of Contemporary Art reopens after renovations
The building is now equipped with barrier-free bathrooms and nursing rooms to make the museum more accessible.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Mar 14, 2023
Companies in Japan to be required to accommodate the disabled from next year
Japan will legally oblige companies to provide necessary services and infrastructure to assist people with disabilities from April 2024.
Japan Times
LIFE / Travel
Dec 3, 2022
Tokyo named among the world's best destinations for disabled travelers
Amsterdam, Las Vegas, Paris and Tokyo were all among the most accessible cities according to a recent report, but there's still more work to be done.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Dec 27, 2020
Toyota and Lixil develop mobile washroom for wheelchair users
The spacious private washroom, which can be pulled by a car, will also come in handy in times of disaster.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Nov 7, 2020
Japanese unit of IBM among group to test AI suitcase for guiding blind
A group of five companies including the Japanese unit of IBM Corp. are currently developing an artificial intelligence suitcase to help visually impaired people travel independently. A pilot test of a prototype was conducted at an airport in Japan on Monday.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Society
May 12, 2020
Virus exacerbates challenges for people in Japan with disabilities
Social distancing recommendations, stay-at-home requests and use of masks can complicate day-to-day activities.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Mar 4, 2020
All shinkansen to have spaces for wheelchairs, Japan ministry says
The transport ministry said Tuesday that all of the country's shinkansen trains would create spaces for wheelchair users.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Feb 27, 2020
Wheelchairs developed by former Japanese Paralympian gaining attention ahead of Tokyo Games
Sports wheelchairs developed by a former Paralympian are drawing attention ahead of the Tokyo Games.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Voices / FOREIGN AGENDA
May 26, 2019
An Olympics crowdsourcing project may be the answer to making Japan a more accessible country
Tokyo is up against the clock when it comes to creating a city that's accessible for everyone. Its deadline? Next year's Olympic Games, though that really shouldn't matter when it comes to transforming Japan into a nation where anyone can use any space.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jul 16, 2018
Japan to increase number of wheelchair-friendly hotel rooms
The land ministry plans to revise Japan's standards for barrier-free hotels to increase the number of rooms suitable for wheelchair users ahead of the Olympics.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Mar 30, 2018
Goal to achieve full barrier-free access at major transport terminals by 2020 Olympics adopted
The government on Friday set a target of achieving full barrier-free access for the disabled at major train stations, bus terminals and airports ahead of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics
Japan Times
JAPAN
Dec 4, 2017
Japan's first public sign language phones installed at Haneda airport
The nation's first public phones allowing communication via sign language were set up Sunday at Tokyo's Haneda airport.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Feb 27, 2016
Participation in society should be barrier-free
When Prime Minister Shinzo Abe formed a task force last year to promote greater citizen involvement in whatever it is he is trying to accomplish, many people objected to the name of the group. "Ichioku Sokatsuyaku" reminded them of a slogan used before and during World War II that demanded national solidarity toward prosecution of the conflict. One of the people who took issue with the name was former pop idol Momoko Kikuchi, who had been asked to participate in the task force.

Longform

High-end tourism is becoming more about the kinds of experiences that Japan's lesser-known places can provide.
Can Japan lure the jet-set class off the beaten path?