Canoeist Monika Seryu hopes performance in 2020 Paralympics triggers social change in Japan
Canoeist Monika Seryu is determined to excel at the 2020 Paralympics next year, believing a strong performance will not only give hope to people with disabilities but also help change perceptions and make Japanese society better for all. Seryu, aiming for a medal at the ...
IPC chief Andrew Parsons says 2020 Paralympic marathon will remain in Tokyo
The 2020 Tokyo Paralympics marathon will proceed in the nation's capital as planned, said Andrew Parsons, the International Paralympic Committee president, on Thursday. Parsons made the statement after meeting in Tokyo with local organizing committee chief Yoshiro Mori as talks continue between the Tokyo Metropolitan ...
Japanese learners flock to International Sign language courses ahead of Tokyo Paralympics
As the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics draw ever closer, more people in Japan are taking courses in a pidgin form of sign language called International Sign as a means of communicating with hearing-impaired visitors from overseas. The courses are expected to improve communications standards ...
Creating a barrier-free transportation environment in Japan
Not too long ago, domestic media organizations would rarely have anything negative to say about the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, but as the actual games draw nearer, there's been a greater willingness to find fault with preparations and even raise a bit of alarm. Everything ...
Toyosu fish transactions decrease one year after relocation from Tsukiji
Tokyo's major wholesale food market in Toyosu in Koto Ward is struggling to stem the decrease in the amount of fish traded there, as it marks a year after relocating from Tsukiji. The Toyosu market, which opened on Oct. 11, 2018, after a two-year delay ...
New app MyMizu aims to reduce plastic waste in Japan, one drink at a time
In a country drowning itself in plastic, the creators of a new app called MyMizu are attempting to change seemingly entrenched views and cultural norms regarding sustainability. It's a challenge the creators acknowledge, but they believe they are making inroads. Two weeks after the release ...
The Tokyo Organizing Committee announced the results of the Paralympic Games ticket lottery on Wednesday, on the My Ticket page of the official website. Applicants will also be sent an email notification of their success or otherwise for next summer's games. Tickets allocated in the lottery ...
National Public Safety Commission tackles topics from elderly driving to Tokyo Olympics security
The government will consider various measures to prevent traffic accidents involving elderly drivers, including the introduction of a new driver's license category with special limitations, National Public Safety Commission Chairman Ryota Takeda has said. "Many kinds of measures will be needed to prevent accidents, as ...
Stand and be delivered: Japan's evolving escalator etiquette
Is escalator etiquette in Japan about to change? The established custom of standing to one side and keeping the other side open for people in a hurry is being called into question by those who want to make moving stairways safer. As next year's Tokyo Olympics ...
IOC chief 'to confirm Japan's food products are safe,' Foreign Ministry says
The IOC’s support comes after Seoul said that it would double the number of samples and frequency of inspections for radioactive substances on some products from Japan.
Legacy of pioneering Japanese doctor lives on in communities for disabled
As Japan prepares to host its second Paralympics next summer, one social welfare group can look back on over five decades of effort it has made to achieve the vision of a pioneering doctor who many consider to be the father of sports for ...
Cold comfort: Tokyo Olympic planners test fake snow to beat the heat
Tokyo 2020 organizers blasted volunteers with fake snow on Friday as they trial ever more extreme methods to beat the heat ahead of the games. But instead of light fluffy snowflakes, the crowd, consisting mainly of Tokyo 2020 staff, was pelted with fairly coarse shards ...
