Tokyo Weekender - February 2017

intensified the debate in Japan concerning
attitudes towards physically and
cognitively impaired persons.
“Not showing their names and faces is
basically like denying them their humanity,”
says author Suzanne Kamata, whose
daughter Lilia has cerebral palsy and
is profoundly deaf. “Following terrorist
attacks in Nice and Orlando I remember
reading a lot about what the victims
were like and what they enjoyed doing.
Obviously, we couldn't do that after the
Sagamihara incident, which I felt was
wrong. Also, it didn’t receive the same
kind of attention as other tragedies. There
were no hashtags on Twitter or things
like that. As a news story, it seemed to die
down quite quickly.”
Kamata's views are shared by many,
including New York–based filmmaker
Kazuhiro Soda, who in 2007 directed the
critically acclaimed documentary Seishin
(Mental) about an outpatient mental
health clinic in Okayama. “Of course, the
will of victims’ family members should
be respected,” Soda tells us. “However,
from what I understand in the case of
Sagamihara it was the police that decided
not to publicize the names of those killed
because of their disabilities. I find that
disturbing and discriminative. I imagine
some of the families wanted to talk openly
about the deceased. Without their stories
the victims remain faceless, making it
harder for the public to feel sympathy
towards them.
“There are so many people suffering
from mental disorders, but because of the
shame attached they choose not to discuss
their problems. They are illnesses that
could affect anyone. I realized this while
working in Tokyo for two months when
I was screamed at by producers and regularly
had to stay at the office overnight.
The working conditions here are stressful
enough to make the most laid-back person
snap, and that was one of the reasons
I wanted to make Seishin. I was strict
about not blurring out the patients’ faces
as is the case with most documentaries.
In order to have an open discussion, they
should be visible.”
Slightly encouraged by the progress
that’s being made, Soda believes mental
illness is becoming less of a taboo
in Japan. This is partly down to several
government initiatives including various
educational programs on the topic. Furthermore,
in April 2016 a new law was enacted
aimed at eliminating discrimination
against individuals with either physical
or cognitive disabilities. Whilst a little
vague regarding what constitutes discrimination,
the legislation, which will be
reviewed in three years, was unquestionably
a step in the right direction. So was
the amendment of the Act on Employment
Promotion of Persons with Disabilities
back in 2013, which raised the legal employment
quota for people with disabilities
from 1.8% to 2.0%. While many
companies still fall below that number,
the employment rate of individuals with
disabilities has continued to grow year
by year over the past decade.
One organization certainly playing
its part is Pasona Heartful. A special
exemption company of the Pasona Group,
it's engaged not only in the outsourcing of
office operations for people with disabilities,
but also the development of agriculture
and other new areas of employment.
“Our approach is to take each person
on their own merit,” says Pasona
Heartful director Tadamichi Shiroiwa.
“We're an HR firm so our focus is always
on a candidate's strengths and skills, not
their handicap. For too long in Japan,
people with disabilities have been segregated.
The situation has improved over
the past 20 years, but it feels like a slow
process. I still think we're behind other
countries in terms of equal employment
POLITICIAN SEIKO
NODA WAS TOLD
SHE SHOULD LEAVE
HER SON TO DIE
opportunities and barrier-free access.
The government needs to enforce more
stringent architectural policies ensuring
that buildings have better accessibility
for everyone.”
Suzanne Kamata concurs. She feels
attitudes towards people with disabilities
in Japan have shifted in recent times;
however, regarding infrastructure she
believes there’s still a long way to go. The
American-born writer explores topics
like accessibility and human relations in
her new book A Girls' Guide to the Islands
in which she travels around the Seto
Inland Sea with her daughter. It's a trip
she probably wouldn't have envisioned
making 10 to 15 years ago.
“When Lilia was young, my motherin-law
told me not to let her play outside
on her own because she was worried what
the neighbors would think,” says Kamata.
“I heard there were three children nearby
with disabilities, but I never really saw
any. The attitude back then seemed to be
‘let’s hide them away.’ Thankfully that’s
changed and you’re now seeing more kids
in wheelchairs and so on out and about.
Unfortunately, there are still many shops
and restaurants, including new ones, that
are inaccessible. This contrasts sharply
with America where even old mom and pop
stores have ramps.”
Josh Grisdale, who has cerebral palsy
and is the founder of the Accessible Japan
website (www.accessible-japan.com),
points out renovations to public buildings
don't just benefit those who are physically
challenged, “but everyone.” The 36 year
old, who moved to Tokyo 10 years ago
from Canada and recently became a Japanese
citizen, is pleased with the progress
that’s being made and is confident that
significant steps are being taken towards
making Japan a barrier-free country.
“I feel freer here than I did in Canada
where I lived in a rural area and always
had to rely on someone for a ride whenever
I wanted to go anywhere,” he tells
Weekender. “In Tokyo, the vast majority
of public transportation is now wheelchair
accessible so I can be more spontaneous.
The toilets are also great and very
easy to use. There’s even an app to find
them: ‘Check a Toilet.'
“Sometimes people follow the rules
too closely here, but in general I feel it’s
a great place for people with disabilities
to visit. I remember the first time I came.
There were all kinds of questions swirling
around my head. Was the hotel going to be
OK? Would I be able to use the train? The
feeling of uncertainty was accentuated by
the lack of information. After moving here
permanently and learning the language, I
realized there was lots of it available – it
just wasn’t in English! That’s why I decided
to create Accessible Japan.”
As well as providing tips, the website
also features various articles including
some related to the Sagamihara massacre,
an incident which Grisdale found difficult
to comprehend. “I’ve faced various forms
of discrimination during my life, but
never imagined someone hating people
because of their disabilities,” he says.
Yet, Satoshi Uematsu is not completely
alone in his perverse way of thinking.
Ableism does exist and is exacerbated by
public figures such as Australian philosopher
Peter Singer, who advocates killing
disabled babies via infanticide. In Japan,
LDP politician Seiko Noda, whose child
was born severely handicapped, has been
subjected to online abuse including one
person who told her that she should leave
her son to die as he “uses up so much
government money for medical care.”
“Rather than spouting these opinions, I
wish those individuals could observe people
like my daughter,” says Kamata. “Then
maybe they’d realize they’re more than
just their disability. Awareness is growing
and attitudes are changing, however, I fear
that discrimination will always be there.”
TOKYO WEEKENDER | FEBRUARY 2017 | 29