Japan

Japan 

At a glance

• Japan’s Act for Eliminating Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (2016) seeks to eliminate disability discrimination in Japan. 

• Japan has both signed and ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). 

Key stats

• There were 9.635 million disabled people in Japan in 2018 – 7.6 per cent of the population (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare). 

• 614,000 disabled people were employed in Japan in 2022 (The Mainichi). 

• Workers with physical disabilities receive wages that are roughly 70 per cent lower than the average. This drops to 41 per cent for mental disabilities, and 38 per cent for intellectual disabilities (Dr Reiko Nishida, 2021) 

• The spending power of disabled people, their friends and families in Japan is estimated at ¥13 trillion (Nippon Foundation, 2022). 

The law

• Disability legislation: 
  • Act for Eliminating Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (2016) – This law seeks to remove disability discrimination from Japanese society. It provides for reasonable accommodations at work and in the provision of goods and services, among other provisions. This was amended in April 2024 to expand the requirement for reasonable accommodations to private businesses providing goods and services to the public. 
  • Act for Promotion of Employment of Persons with Disabilities (2012) – This law establishes support for disabled people who face “considerable restriction in vocational life” to secure and remain in employment. It does not cover disabilities considered to be milder or more minor. 
  • Basic Act for Persons with Disabilities (1970) – This law establishes the legal equality of disabled people in Japanese society. 

• Definition of disability – The 2016 Act for Eliminating Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities uses the same definition of disability as the Basic Act for Persons with Disabilities. This defines a person with a disability as: 
  • “A person with a physical disability, a person with an intellectual disability, a person with a mental disability (including developmental disabilities), and other persons with disabilities affecting the functions of the body or mind (hereinafter referred to collectively as “disabilities”), and who are in a state of facing substantial limitations in their continuous daily or social life because of a disability or social barrier.” 

Language

• Official language – The official language of Japan is Japanese. It is spoken by most of the population. Organisations operating in Japan should consult with local disability organisations and individuals to identify acceptable language to use around disability. 

• Person-first language – When translated into English, acceptable language around disability in Japan tends to use person-first language. For example, “person with a disability” or “person with autism,’ rather than “disabled/autistic person.” 

• Style guide – Accessible Japan has created a list of essential Japanese phrases and words for people with disabilities. This lists key English terms and their acceptable equivalents in Japanese. 

Employment

• Adjustments / accommodations – The 2016 Act for Eliminating Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities requires employers to make reasonable accommodations to remove barriers for disabled employees. The law does not clearly define what makes a reasonable accommodation. 

• Positive discrimination – Public and private businesses can favour disabled people in recruitment and retention, in order to meet the legal quota. (Ryoka Sakuraba, 2014). 

• Quotas – Employers must ensure that at least 2.3 per cent of their workforce is disabled. This is scheduled to raise to 2.5 per cent in April 2024, and 2.7 per cent by July 2026. Failure to meet the quota can result in a fine of ¥50,000 per month for every   person below the quota. Organisations that exceed this can receive ¥21,000 per month for every disabled employee above the quota. 

• Data – Employers are required to report on the numbers of disabled employees, to meet the requirements of the quota. 

• Incentives: 
  • Quota system – Organisations that exceed the quota for hiring disabled employees can receive ¥27,000 per month for every disabled employee above the quota. 

Customers

• The 2016 Act for Eliminating Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities was amended in April 2024 to require all private business operators to provide reasonable accommodations to disabled people. 

Built environment

• There is no legally required standard of accessibility for private businesses. However, The Basic Act for Persons with Disabilities and the Act for Eliminating Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities require providers of goods and services to remove barriers to access. 

Digital accessibility

• The 2016 Act for Eliminating Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities requires public bodies to provide accessible websites. The relevant Japanese standard is JIS X8341-3. This is recommended but not required for private businesses. The Bureau of Internet Accessibility has more information. 

Country-specific disability organisations

• Japan Disability Forum – An umbrella organisation that brings together 13 Japanese disability-specific organisations to promote the CRPD and disabled people’s rights in Japan. 
• Accessibility Consortium of Enterprises (ACE) – A group of over 20 organisations in Japan that provides seminars and workshops to HR staff and employees with disabilities. ACE also publishes advice and guidance for businesses. 
• Japanese Society for Rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities – Works with government, individuals and employers to promote the rehabilitation of disabled people.