*This photo was taken when I viewed the permanent exhibition at the National Museum of Ethnology. However, viewers are not allowed to touch the art. [Due to the Coronavirus pandemic, exhibitions at The National Museum of Ethnology are postponed until Autumn 2021.] By Yoko-Sonya In November 2019, I attended a Read more…
This past Saturday was the public grand opening of the National Stadium that will be used for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and Paralympics. Winners of a ticket lottery were able to look around the stadium and enjoy a special opening event that included traditional dances, performances by athletes and musical Read more…
By Alexa Fukuoka When you decide to move abroad, it will obviously require you to make some adjustments. Dealing with a new culture, new social norms, even new food can make every day a bit more stressful (and exciting) than if you had stayed put. Slap a disability on top Read more…
(And other complex situations I’ve found while being visually impaired in Japan) By Alexa Fukuoka When I was in my early 20’s, I learned that I have a rare and aggressive form of Lattice Degeneration. Basically, that means my retinas are really weak and prone to detaching. After four surgeries, Read more…
Navigating the streets of Tokyo is no easy task, regardless of ability. However, having a disability adds an extra layer of difficulty as the routes offered by most navigation apps don’t take accessibility into consideration, and will often lead users to the steps of an overhead pedestrian crossing or an Read more…
At a recent event on accessibility in the service industry, we were excited to meet members of the Japanese Service Dog Resource Center (JSDRC). As bringing a service dog or guide dog to Japan is not an easy process, we asked the JSDRC to share about their services. What is Read more…