Saou Ichikawa was born in 1979. Diagnosed in childhood with congenital myopathy, a rare disease that causes muscle weakness, and has used a ventilator since age 14. Graduated in March 2023 from Waseda University’s School of Human Sciences correspondence program. Her thesis “The Reciprocal Influence Between the Representation of Disabled People and Real Society” won the Ono Azusa Memorial Academic Prize. Her debut novel “Hunchback” won the 169th Akutagawa Prize in July 2023. Her most recent book, to be published in September 2025 is “A Girl’s Spine”.

"Coexistence" is a word used in a variety of contexts, including the global environment, living things, and different cultures, but as a simple search for "coexistence society" reveals, in Japan it is a word that should primarily be used to consider the inclusion of people with disabilities. Japan, in particular, is the country where the horrific Sagamihara Massacre, a mass murder of disabled people, took place. If the meaning and obligation of using the word "symbiosis" in our country since that incident never crossed the minds of the planners and approvers of the Asahi Earth Conference 2024, then beyond feeling disappointed, I'm left with the suspicion that some more serious issue lies between "me" and you. By "me," I mean Ichikawa Saou.”

Episode notes:

‘Akutagawa Prize Winning Author with Disabilities, Saou Ichikawa, Offers View on ‘Co-existence’ in Japan’:

https://barrierfreejapan.com/2025/09/14/akutagawa-prize-winning-author-with-disabilities-saou-ichikawa-offers-view-on-co-existence-in-japan/

'女の子の背骨'/'A Girl's Spine' (To Be Released 26 September 2025): https://www.amazon.co.jp/-/en/女の子の背骨-市川-沙央/dp/4163920218/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&dib_tag=se&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.q_315cnhrTy1Zjrjd1zrbOQwXP-UJLt70rKPpxg3R8PGjHj071QN20LucGBJIEps.8JMjqZY9dmkTcTHCzcIwRX7YIecMh5m2a5lTa_gyKY8&qid=1757856265&sr=8-1

Akutagawa Prize Winning Disabled Author, Saou Ichikawa, Offers View on ‘Co-existence’ in Japan

Yasuhiko Funago, a former House of Councilors lawmaker with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, called on politicians to guarantee the right to "live until the end," in a recent written interview. The retired lawmaker of Reiwa Shinsengumi, an opposition party, served one six-year term in the Upper House before deciding not to seek re-election in this July's election.

Episode notes:

‘Ex-lawmaker with ALS calls on politicians to ensure right to live’:

https://barrierfreejapan.com/2025/09/16/ex-lawmaker-with-als-calls-on-politicians-to-ensure-right-to-live/



Ex-lawmaker in Japan with ALS calls on politicians to ensure right to live

this has been in the vault for a really long time. been feeling super shitty so the drops havent been happening as frequently as i would like. I would hope eventually i have the energy to keep doing what i love but recently every thing i do has felt like 100x what its supposed to be. hopefully in the future I can get over this hump im in. thank you for everyone who has supported me through this time and i look forward to continue creating and sharing with the world. i love you all.

- <3

vocal prod and mix - <3

Patience*: ･ﾟ ♪♬(忍耐)♪♬ *: ･ﾟ𝔀𝓱𝓮𝓷 𝔀𝓲𝓵𝓵 𝓲𝓽 𝓮𝓷𝓭?

A quake with a preliminary magnitude of 4.7 rattled a group of small islands in southwestern Japan but no tsunami warning was issued, the country's weather agency said.

The quake occurred shortly before 10 p.m. in waters near the Tokara island chain and its depth was very shallow, the Japan Meteorological Agency said, adding it measured lower 5 on the Japanese seismic scale of 7 in Toshima, Kagoshima Prefecture.

Episode notes: ‘M4.7 quake shakes southwestern Japan islands, no tsunami warning’ (Kyodo):

https://english.kyodonews.net/articles/-/61207


M4.7 quake shakes southwestern Japan islands on September 17th, no tsunami warning issued

An expert panel of Japan's health ministry on Thursday approved over-the-counter sales of a drug to treat erectile dysfunction. It is expected that OTC sales of the drug will help spread opportunities for erectile dysfunction treatment as the male sexual dysfunction has major impacts on society, such as being a factor for declining birthrates.

Episode notes:

‘Japan Panel OKs 1st OTC Sales of Erectile Dysfunction Drug’:

https://barrierfreejapan.com/2025/09/19/japan-panel-oks-1st-otc-sales-of-erectile-dysfunction-drug/




Japan Panel OKs 1st OTC Sales of Erectile Dysfunction Drug

Retired visually impaired swimmer Junichi Kawai was named the next commissioner of the Japan Sports Agency on Friday and will become the first Paralympian to assume the post when his appointment takes effect Oct. 1. Kawai expressed his determination to fulfill his role, saying at a press conference in Tokyo, “My goal is to build a society where citizens recognize the value and appeal of sports.” As it is rare for a government body to be led by someone who is totally visually impaired, he added, “The fact that someone like me has been appointed to this position shows that times have changed, and I hope this means a lot to many people.”

Episode notes:

‘Japan names 5-time Paralympic gold medalist Kawai to head sports agency’:

https://barrierfreejapan.com/2025/09/19/japan-names-5-time-paralympic-gold-medalist-kawai-to-head-sports-agency/


Japan names 5-time Paralympic gold medalist Junichi Kawai to head sports agency

In response to the higher rate of disability pension denials last fiscal year compared to the year before, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare conducted a detailed review of over 2,800 claims that had been denied between April and July last year. As a result, 124 of these cases were re-evaluated and will now be approved for payment. The ministry has announced it will continue to investigate recognition decisions and publish monthly updates on the progress.

Episode notes:

‘124 Previously Denied Disability Pension Claims Approved, Japan’s Health Ministry to Continue Review and Publish Monthly Updates’:

https://barrierfreejapan.com/2025/09/20/124-previously-denied-disability-pension-claims-approved-japans-health-ministry-to-continue-review-and-publish-monthly-updates/


124 Previously Denied Disability Pension Claims Approved, Japan’s Health Ministry to Continue Review and Publish Monthly Updates

To promote social participation for people with disabilities, on August 30th, the Yamanashi prefectural government held a fashion show at the Aeon Mall Kofu Showa in the town of Showa in the prefecture, featuring both professional models and models with disabilities.

Episode notes:

‘Models with Disabilities Walk Runway in Yamanashi Fashion Show, 14 People Participate in 4th Event’:

https://barrierfreejapan.com/2025/09/18/models-with-disabilities-walk-runway-in-yamanashi-fashion-show-14-people-participate-in-4th-event/


Models with Disabilities Walk Runway in Yamanashi Fashion Show

Saou Ichikawa was born in 1979. Diagnosed in childhood with congenital myopathy, a rare disease that causes muscle weakness, and has used a ventilator since age 14. Ichikawa graduated in March 2023 from Waseda University’s School of Human Sciences correspondence program. Her thesis “The Reciprocal Influence Between the Representation of Disabled People and Real Society” won the Ono Azusa Memorial Academic Prize. Her debut novel “Hunchback” won the 169th Akutagawa Prize in July 2023. Her most recent book, to be published in September 2025 is “A Girl’s Spine”.

Episode notes: ‘Akutagawa Prize Winning Author with Disabilities, Saou Ichikawa, Offers View on ‘Co-existence’ in Japan [Podcast Episode]’:

https://barrierfreejapan.com/2025/09/15/akutagawa-prize-winning-author-with-disabilities-saou-ichikawa-offers-view-on-co-existence-in-japan-podcast-episode/



The First Paragraphs of a New Story by Akutagawa Prize Winning Author with Disabilities, Saou Ichikawa

Tokyo police have arrested four people on suspicion of robbing and abusing a man in his 40s with a mild intellectual disability after forcing him to drink large amounts of whisky, the Metropolitan Police Department said Sept. 26. The suspects — a 22-year-old company worker from Shizuoka Prefecture, a 24-year-old woman from Tokyo, a 21-year-old university student from Hokkaido, and a 19-year-old male restaurant worker — allegedly met the victim through social media and conspired to exploit his condition. Police said the four made the man drink over 700 milliliters of whisky in Tokyo’s Nakano Ward in June, stole his smartphone and used about 100,000 yen in electronic money. They also filmed the incident, which included acts of sexual humiliation, and later abandoned the victim near his home and again in Shizuoka Prefecture. All four have admitted to the allegations, according to the police.

Episode notes:

‘4 in Japan accused of robbing intellectually disabled man after forcing him to drink’:

https://barrierfreejapan.com/2025/09/30/4-in-japan-accused-of-robbing-intellectually-disabled-man-after-forcing-him-to-drink/


Four in Japan arrested for robbing intellectually disabled man after forcing him to drink

Hosted by Michael Gillan Peckitt, who resides in Kobe, Japan, the Disability News Japan Podcast is News website 'Barrier Free Japan's podcast, a weekly digest of some of the news about disability in Japan in audio form. New episodes will usually be available every Friday at 6am Japan Time.

‎ <𝓛𝓮𝓼𝓼𝓽𝓱𝓪𝓷3
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New tracks tagged #日本