If you were to set foot in Japan today, you might miss it at first glance, but there’s been an extraordinary urban makeover over the past decade. From sleek ramps to shiny new elevators, cities have experienced remarkable transformation to embrace inclusivity. Japan is employing new designs to meet the needs of disabled and elderly individuals, paving the way for a barrier-free society.
Yet, inclusivity extends far beyond mere physical barriers. The recent incident at Aeon Cinema, where a staff member criticized a wheelchair user, is a glaring reminder.
Aeon Cinema: Not so barrier-free?
On the 15th, Ryoko Nakajima, a well-known wheelchair activist renowned on SNS, TV shows, and as a public speaker, shared her frustration on X. She recounted her recent experience at Aeon Cinema’s Grand Theater in Chofu, where she had opted for a premium seat. However, when she sought assistance from the staff at the movie’s end, she was taken aback by their response.
Rather than helping her, they expressed reluctance, citing time constraints, and suggested she consider watching movies elsewhere in the future. As a regular at the cinema, Ryoko Nakajima couldn’t shake her confusion. This wasn’t her first visit, so she couldn’t help but wonder: what had suddenly made assistance impossible this time?
“It was incredibly heartbreaking to hear. […]. I felt so frustrated and sad that I ended up crying in the restroom. [… ] Why did suddenly become impossible? I am now beyond sadness; I am filled with anger and frustration.”
The following day, Aeon Entertainment Co., Ltd. swiftly issued a public apology on their official website. While expressing remorse for their staff’s unacceptable conduct, they also vowed to introspect on the inadequate guidance given to employees. They wrapped up by recognizing the pressing need for improvement to prevent such incidents from happening again.
A public court in session on social media
As expected, the public didn’t hold back in chiming in on the incident. From flooding Nakajima’s post with comments to freely sharing their thoughts on X, opinions were all over the map.
Wheelchair users stood in solidarity with Ryoko Nakajima, expressing heartfelt support for her experience. Questions surfaced about the sincerity of the apology itself. Some are pressing for clarity on whether individuals with disabilities, like Nakajima, are truly embraced at Aeon Cinema.
Even prominent figures weighed in on the issue. Tomoka Inokari from the idol group Kamen Joshi seized the moment to broaden the conversation beyond just movie theaters. She voiced concern over the scarcity of options for wheelchair users in public spaces, urging everyone to see the bigger picture.
Dissenting voices emerged amid the discourse, expressing empathy for both perspectives. Some contended that movie theater staff wasn’t responsible for aiding disabled individuals. Others suggested designated areas for disabled individuals to enjoy movies from their wheelchairs.
The zero-barriers promise
In Japan, over 4 million people live with physical disabilities, with 2 million reliant on wheelchairs, making up 1.57% of the population. According to the Ministry of Health, 33.4% of those with physical disability certificates are under 65, and 16.3% of them venture out daily. These numbers paint a clear picture: accessibility is crucial for ensuring a comfortable life for all.
For these purposes, Japan introduced the Law for Promoting the Smooth Mobility of the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities in 2006, commonly known as the “Barrier-Free Law.” Alongside efforts to ramp up accessible building construction and public transportation, the act aims to nurture a universal and inclusive society. Through a blend of hardware and software improvements, these initiatives aspire to elevate the quality of life for everyone, ensuring no one is left behind.
To bring this vision to life, the Barrier-Free Law is pushing the boundaries of accessibility further. It’s no longer just about meeting standard targets. Now, even taxis and parking lots are part of the equation for improvement. What’s truly remarkable is its expansion to include not only physical disabilities but also mental and intellectual impairments.
The law felt like a genuine promise to drive positive change and actively shape a more inclusive future for Japan. Recognizing that tangible developments alone wouldn’t suffice, it also underscored the vital role of public mindset:
“If a person with disabilities informs a business operator of the need to remove social barriers, and if the associated burden is not excessive, the operator must make necessary and reasonable efforts to eliminate those barriers,” Article 8, Paragraph 2.
Law in motion
Almost two decades have passed since Japan implemented the Barrier-Free Law. Has the country lived up to its promise? Let’s talk numbers.
By December 2018, an impressive 89% of railway stations catering to a daily average of 3,000 users had integrated at least one barrier-free route, complete with slopes or elevators. Moreover, 94% of these stations installed tactile paving blocks for the visually impaired, while 85% boasted multi-functional toilets.
Guidance facilities were accessible in 70.4% of stations, and 86.5% featured barrier-free ticket vending machines. Moreover, over 95% of stations had widened ticket gates for convenient wheelchair access.
The 2022 Ministry of Education’s survey on the barrier-free status of public elementary and high schools also yield promising results. Among 27,733 schools nationwide, 29% (8,041 schools) are equipped with elevators, while wheelchair-accessible toilets are available in 70% (19,523 schools) of them.
Amidst the optimistic data, commentator Tetsuya Takeuchi shared concerns with NHK about Tokyo’s hidden barriers. Despite the city’s strides in accessibility, issues linger – like elevators in stations going up but not down or gaps between platforms and trains. These hurdles notably hinder independent train access for wheelchair users.
Compounding the issue is the uneven distribution of progress, favoring densely populated urban hubs while neglecting rural Japan. In these areas, the situation is stark: unmanned stations, outdated stairs, and a glaring lack of elevators. It’s a clear indication of the pressing need for inclusive solutions to reach every corner, guaranteeing fairness and accessibility regardless of location.
Barrier beyond the surface
However, barriers stretch far beyond what meets the eye. A wheelchair bus usage survey in Nagasaki Prefecture revealed that 75% of city buses are fitted with wheelchair-accessible ramps. Despite this, the transportation bureau disclosed that only a handful of wheelchair users board buses, once or twice a month.
What does this reveal about Japan’s barrier-free mission? Well, it doesn’t dismantle the entire fortress, but it does shine a light on one area still in need of significant attention: psychological barriers. The Barrier-Free Act already acknowledged these hurdles and aimed to eradicate them. It envisioned a new era of social collaboration, where individuals empathize with and address each other’s challenges as their own.
Regrettably, events indicate that Japan still has a long way to go in achieving true inclusivity. Psychological barriers pervade society, affecting both individuals with disabilities and those without. For instance, wheelchair users may hesitate to use public transportation due to fears of drawing unwanted attention or inconveniencing staff.
Conversely, societal attitudes also play a role. The Cabinet’s “International Survey on the Promotion of Social Participation of People with Disabilities” (2007) illustrates this disparity. In Germany and the U.S., nearly 90% report saying they interact with disabled people without being overly conscious of their disability. In contrast, 60% of respondents in Japan admit to being conscious of someone’s disability.
“It’s not solely about having a law or not. The ultimate goal is for such actions to be ingrained in society, even in the absence of legislation,” commented Tetsuya Takeuchi to NHK, reflecting on Japan’s mental barrier-free ideal.
What can we bring to the table?
Decades ago, even Tokyo, with its dense population, lacked elevators. However, the dawn of the new century ushered in new legislation aimed at enhancing quality of life and creating a barrier-free Japan.
These laws gradually transformed the urban landscape, with cities now being planned and equipped with barrier-free amenities. However, implementation has been slow and incremental due to associated costs, while rural areas continue to lag.
This brings us back to the Aeon cinema incident. There will inevitably be cases where accessibility falls short due to infrastructure limitations. The ultimate aspiration, of course, is to cultivate environments where everyone can live comfortably. But as this incident shows, there’s still a long road ahead.
Sources
車いす使用者に別の映画館勧めたか イオンシネマ「不適切な対応」謝罪 ネットは賛否「はっきりさせて」 Yahoo News Japan
猪狩ともか「車椅子ユーザーの選択肢って本当に少ない」 映画館問題で「現実知ってもらえたら」と投稿 Yahoo News Japan
イオンシネマ 従業員の不適切な対応で謝罪 車いすインフルエンサーの問題提起受け「再発防止策を講じる」 Sponichi Annex
｢駅員さんに手伝ってもらうのは申し訳ない｣車いす利用者にそう思わせる日本社会は恥ずかしい President Online
バリアフリー法の概要 国土交通省
障害者の社会参加促進等に関する国際比較調査の概要 内閣府
学校施設のバリアーフリー化に関する実態調査 文部科学省
日本のバリアフリーは進んでいる？ 交通機関と歴史的建造物のいま NHK
１人１人が自分らしく生きるために『選択』のできる社会を実現する すららアクティブラーニングイベント
