Maurice SkinnerOur modern era has made advancements for the lives of individuals with disabilities. Many countries are developing a better understanding of these individuals, thanks to various advocacy groups, advanced technology, and changes regarding research and scientific methods. While this may be true, many developed countries still struggle to bring equality to and provide a proper voice for those living with a disability. Japan is no exception, battling the stigma against people living with a disability in the past few years.
The stigma peoples with disabilities face
The stigma for individuals living with mental, developmental, or physical disabilities in Japan runs deep within the country. Many of these individuals may feel more alienated from their peers or ashamed, which should be considered an unfair assessment regarding how to receive another human being.
The stigma could arise from several factors. Japanese culture relies more on collective harmony between other human beings. “Amae,” which is a desire to be loved or accepted, is part of the collective harmony concept that most people in Japan are accustomed to. People living with disabilities may feel socially distant from others. A study comparing American and Japanese students showed that Japanese students exhibited even greater social distance compared to their US counterparts toward individuals with autism.
Insufficient understanding of mental health
Mental health issues are still handled rather archaically in Japan in comparison to its western counterparts. As of 2013, roughly half of people in Japan facing a mental illness tend to keep this fact secret. One of the largest contributors to such a negative phenomenon is the lack of education regarding mental illness within the country.
Common misconceptions persist since there isn’t an important emphasis on having the general population understand the various illnesses and disabilities. Many people in Japan may believe that depression is caused by a weakness of character or other straightforward reasons. Moreover, a general portion of the population does not consider proper medication as an effective aid in dealing with a mental disability or illness. Non-awareness of mental issues discourages many people from seeking help from a licensed professional.
Individuals with schizophrenia may suffer the most due to the lack of education and awareness surrounding the condition. A web survey carried out throughout Japan in 2011 found that one out of four respondents agreed that individuals living with schizophrenia should be institutionalized. We should expect better from the world’s third-largest economy.
Outdated hiring practices are unfair
Hiring practices can also be discriminatory toward people with physical or mental disabilities. Although rules have been enacted to ensure companies hire a minimum ratio of individuals with a disability, many do not.
By law, national and local government organizations are required to hire people with disabilities, and they should account for at least 2.5% of the working force. However, records from 2017 showed that governments failed to hire the proper ratio. Japan only reached 2.49% of the minimum target during that year, which shows that discrimination still exists within Japan’s workforce.
Although Japan has made substantial strides in raising awareness regarding individuals who may live from the outside in, more needs to be done to help benefit everyone and not a particular person based on attributes that have a low probability of affecting job performance.
Accessibility in Japan
Accessibility for those living with a disability in Japan has definitely come a long way. Before 2000, general accessibility on public transport for individuals who needed aid, such as a person aided by a wheelchair, was very challenging to find. People would have to make a phone call to a station in advance to use the metro. However, things have taken a drastic change over the last twenty years. Elevators can be found at most stations in large cities such as Tokyo or Osaka. People who use a wheelchair can also acquire fast and efficient service when using Japan’s state-of-the-art metro systems.
Repercussions of not tackling mental health
Japan is also beginning to understand the significance of realizing that mental health is not an issue to be ignored. One problem is Japan’s suicide rate. Between 2009 and 2019, the suicide rate declined at a steady rate. The suicide rate in Japan was approximately 25.7 per 100,000 people in 2009; accordingly, the rate hit a record low of 16 per 100,000 in 2019.
The reason for Japan’s decline in suicide rates may be connected to the government’s ability to take action and carry out countermeasures regarding the issue. Moreover, Japan has a cultural history of finding suicide a more tolerant issue than other cultures. This began to change in the 90s after the growing concern for the increasing suicide rate, which may have been caused by the deflation of Japan’s economic bubble. Unfortunately, Japan has seen its first major increase in its suicide rate as a consequence of COVID-19’s devastation across the globe.
Closing remarks
Although Japan lags far behind other developed nations in terms of equality for individuals with mental and physical disabilities, its governments and various organizations are fixing a system that only benefits certain persons. However, it is crucial to help raise awareness in a country with long-standing misconceptions about mental and physical disabilities. Laws and rules continue to be enacted to provide the necessary services to those who need them.
