British tourist N.W. contacted Lifelines about benefits for disabled drivers in Japan. He is the holder of a Blue Badge, a government-authorized ID that affords certain privileges to British citizens with disabilities, both at home and abroad. Japan is apparently on the list of countries where the ID is recognized, entitling disabled visitors to the same benefits as Japanese residents, and our reader thought this included getting discounts on highway tolls.
I showed my badge at the tolls and it was accepted at first. Then, after a few more times, they asked if they could take a photo of it, as head office had requested this.
When I came to use it again, they told me head office had said they could no longer give me the discount and they could not accept the badge. This is in breach of the treaty signed by Japan giving the same rights to visiting disabled as its own disabled citizens. Japan signed this agreement in 1997.