Disability in the Far East: Japan’s Social Transformation in Perceptions of People with Disabilities

Main Article Content

Miho Iwakuma

Keywords

Japan, culture, disability

Abstract

The phenomenon of disability is socially constructed; therefore, it is not free from norms, rules, shared understandings or value systems—in short, culture.  This paper examines the universal presence of disability in the Japanese context, which is affected by a myriad of ever-changing influences, including political, cultural, and social forces.
Abstract 1516 | PDF Downloads 974 Word Downloads 168 Text Downloads 208

References

Akiyama, T., Isobe, T., Kitagawa, H., Tsuzuki, T., Terashima, K., Matsubara, A., Matsubara, G., & Yamada, M. (2001). Toshikotsu no unibasaru dezain [Universal design of urban transportation]. Kyoto: Gakugei shuppan.

Baba, K. (2004). Shogai wo motsu hitobito to bariafuri ryoko [People with disabilities and barrier-free travel]. Tokyo: Akashi shoten.

Braithwaite, D., Braithwaite, C. (2003). “Which is my good leg?”: Cultural communication of persons with disabilities. In L. A. Samovar & R. E. Porter (Eds.), Intercultural communication: A reader (pp. 165-176). Belmont, CA: Thompson.

Date, S., Tajiri, K., & Hashimoto, T. (1999). Barrier-free public transportation in Japan: The necessity of some fundamental changes. Proceedings of The Association for European Transport, England, 432, 1-10.

Hayashi, R. (2001). Disability rights movement in Japan. Disability & Society, 16, 855-869.

Heyer, K. (1999). Between equality and difference: The politics of disability rights in Japan. Japanstudien 11, 105.

Higuchi, K. (1997, July 18). Five advantages of aging society. Asahi shimbun. Hirogare yasashii machizukuri [Spreading a concept of “barrier-free for parenting”]. Retrieved from Document6http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/komachi/childcare/baby/20070529ok02.htm?from=goo)

Imrie, R. (1996). Ableist geographies, disabled spaces: Toward a reconstruction of Golledge’s ‘geography of the disabled.’ Transactions of the Institute of British Geographers, New Series, 21, 397-403.

Imrie, R. (2001). Barriered and bounded places and the spatialities of disability, Urban Studies, 38, 231-237.

Iwakuma, M. (2002). Shogaisha koureisha to no komyunikeeshon. [Communication with people with disabilities and the elderly]. In M. Isa (Ed.), Tabunka shakai to ibunka komyunikeeshon [A multicultural society and intercultural communication] (pp. 129-147). Tokyo: Sanshusha.

Iwakuma, M. (2003). Being disabled in modern Japan: A minority perspective. In E. M. Kramer (Ed.), The Emerging Monoculture: “Model Minorities” and Benevolent Assimilation (pp. 124-138). Praeger Press.

Iwakuma, M. (2004). Ethnography of athletes with disabilities at a wheelchair basketball camp. Unpublished manuscript.

Iwakuma, M. (2005). Culture, disability, and disability community: Differences and similarities in Japan and the United States. Atenea, 25, 131-142.

JDF Hisaichi shougaisha sien Fukushima sentaa katsudou houkoku [A report from JDF Hisaichi shougaisha sien Fukushima sentaa]. (2011). [Brochure]. Fukushima: Author.
Kawauchi, Y. (2001, September). Universal design. Paper presented at the meeting of Society of Disability Studies in Japan, Tokyo.

Kirikuri, K. (2011, May 30). Saigai jakusha dou mamoru [How do we protect vulnerable people in the disasters?]. Sankei Shimbun.

Kobsell, S. (2006). Towards self-determination and equalization: A short history of the German Disability Rights Movement. Retrieved from http://www.dsq-sds.org/_html/2006/spring/kobsell.asp

Kose, S. (2002). Unibaasaru dezain e no chosen [A challenge for Universal Design]. Tokyo: Neo shobo.

Kuramoto, T. (1999). Igyo no paradokkusu [A paradox of the deformed]. In J. Ishikawa & O. Nagase (Eds.), Shogaigaku he no shotai [An invitation to disability studies] (pp. 216-255). Tokyo: Akashi shoten.

Kyousaren ha hitotsu [Kyosaren as one]. (2011, August). Gekkann kyousaren TOMO [magazine], 376, 4-5.

Murphy, R. (1990). The body silent. New York: Norton.

Nakajima, T. (2006). Shogaisha no keizaigaku [Economics of people with disabilities]. Tokyo: Toyokeizaishinposha.

Nakanishi, S. (2004). Tojisha shuken [A theory of a minority empowerment]. Tokyo: Iwanami Shinsho.

Nebashi, S., & Inoue, H. (2005). Hyohaku to jiritsu [On vacillation and independence]. Ryugasaki, Ibaraki: Ryutukeizaidaigaku.

Nokura, M. (2011, June 17). Chiteki shougaisha aitsugu kyuushi [People with psychological disabilities suddenly die (at disaster shelters)]. Mainichi Shimbun.

Nomura, K., Hagisu, T., Sugiyama, C., Nozawa, H., & Hatougo, T. (2005). Chiiki kankyou ni okeru kosodate baria furi no jittai oyobi hikaku ni kansuru chosa kenkyuu [A research project on “Barrier-free for parenting” in community environments]. Kodomo mirai zaidan [Foundation for children’s future].

Oedo-sen bariafuri-ka no shakaiteki kouka ni kansuru chosa [A survey on making the Oedo-line barrier-free and its effect in society], 2001. Retrieved from http://www.fukushi.com/news/2001/11/011115-a.html.

Ohtsuka, T. (2004). “Duskin Shogaisha reedaa ikusei kaigai kenshu haken jigyo” to jiritsu seikatsu undo [“Duskin Leadership Training in Japan” and the Independent Living movement]. Retrieved from http://www.yuki-enishi.com/
Ototake, H. (1998). Gotaifumanzoku [No one is perfect]. Tokyo: Kodansha.

Sakurada, J., & Kohama, I. (2001). “Jakusha” to iu jubaku [Under a spell called “the socially vulnerable”]. Tokyo: PHP.

Scheer, J., & Groce, N. (1988). Impairment as a human constant: cross-cultural and historical perspective on variation. Journal of Social Issues, 44, 23-77.

Shoshika hakusho [The white paper on “the low birthrate”], 2005. Retrieved from http://www8.cao.go.jp/shoushi/whitepaper/w-2005/17WebHonpen/index.html.

Sugino, A. (1993). Shogaisha undo no soshiki to nettowaku [Disability movements’ organizations and networks]. Retrieved on May 1, 2007, from http://ipcres1.ipcku.kansai-u.ac.jp/~suginoa/ronbun/ronbun21.htm

Takahagi, N. (2000). Baria-furi no tabi wo tsukuru [Creating barrier-free travel]. Tokyo: Jitsugyo no nihonsha.

Takahashi, M. (n.d.) Shogaisha sabetu to media [Disability discrimination and the media]. Retrieved from http://www.yuki-enishi.com/media_shougai/media_shougai-04.html.

Tanaka, N. (1998). Fukushi no machizukuri dezain [City planning from a welfare perspective]. Tokyo: Gakugei shuppan.

Tateiwa, S. (1997). Hayaku yukkuri: jiritsu seikatsu undo no seisei to tenkai [Fast & slow: an emergence and development of Independent Living Movement]. In J. Asaka., M. Okahara., F. Onaka., & S. Tateiwa (Eds.), Sei no giho [Techniques of living] (pp. 165-226). Tokyo: Fujiwara shoten.

Tokyo koso 2000 [Structuring Tokyo 2000]. Retrieved from http://www.chijihon.metro.tokyo.jp/keikaku/2000/mokuji.htm
Triandis, H. (1994). Culture and social behavior. New York: McGraw-Hill.

Triandis, H. (2003). Culture and conflict. In L. A. Samovar & R. E. Porter (Eds.), Intercultural communication: A reader (pp. 18-27). Belmont, CA: Thompson.

Yasasii kyo no tabi: Shinia ni hyojun [Accommodating travel in Kyoto: Targeting on the seniors]. Retrieved from http://headlines. yahoo. co.jp/hl?a=20061231-00000017-kyt-I26

Similar Articles

1 2 3 > >> 

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.