Nagoya Mayor Hirosawa has apologized to disability groups for discriminatory comments made at a June 2023 public forum on barrier-free access in the planned wooden reconstruction of Nagoya Castle’s main keep. At the meeting, a wheelchair user’s request for an elevator was met with remarks such as “endure it” and “don’t confuse equality with selfishness,” along with a derogatory term, drawing applause from some attendees. Then-Mayor Kawamura and city officials present did not intervene, prompting public outrage. Following a review, the city pledged human rights training for staff, formal apologies, and measures to prevent a recurrence. Hirosawa said the city will work to balance historical authenticity with accessibility in the reconstruction plan.

Episode notes:

‘Discriminatory Comments Over Nagoya Castle Accessibility Towards Wheelchair User Prompts Mayor to Apologize’:

https://barrierfreejapan.com/2025/08/09/discriminatory-comments-over-nagoya-castle-accessibility-towards-wheelchair-user-prompts-mayor-to-apologize/



Discriminatory Comments Over Nagoya Castle Accessibility Towards Wheelchair User Prompts Mayor to Apologize

This episode was recorded live at the 2025 Socialism Conference in Chicago, where we collaborated with conference organizers to host four discussions over the first weekend in July. All four recordings are now available for Death Panel patrons at www.patreon.com/deathpanelpod

feat. Beatrice, Sophie Lewis, Melissa Gira Grant

Session description: As the state intensifies its assault on gender, sexuality, and reproduction—criminalizing abortion, trans care, and pregnancy outcomes, dismantling government functions to fight "gender ideology," and defining "real women" under the guise of protection—how do we endure and resist? Under the shadow of a second Trump administration, the erosion of rights is not a glitch but a feature of a broader regime of privatization and control. Journalist Melissa Gira Grant, and authors Sophie Lewis and Beatrice Adler-Bolton discuss how today's attacks are part of a longer history of state repression, and how we can build resistance in an era of hyper-austerity and rising fascism.

Editor's Note: About 8 minutes in, we had to temporarily switch to our local audio backup to restore a piece of the conversation that is absent in the livestreamed version. The audio quality gets better again around the 16 minute mark.

Find our Socialism Conference 2025 sessions that have yet to be unlocked here:

Dean Spade on Community Care in the Face of Collapse (DP x S25)
— Bea, Dean Spade
www.patreon.com/posts/134644217

Thanks to Han Olliver for our Death Panel x Socialism Conference 2024 poster image, which is being used as the cover image for this episode on platforms that support it. Find and support Han's work at www.hanolliver.com

Find our book Health Communism here: www.versobooks.com/books/4081-health-communism

Find Tracy's book, Abolish Rent, here: www.haymarketbooks.org/books/2443-abolish-rent

Find Phil's new book, Counting Like a State, here: kansaspress.ku.edu/9780700639687/

Death Panel merch here (patrons get a discount code): www.deathpanel.net/merch

As always, support Death Panel at www.patreon.com/deathpanelpod

Become a patron

Gender, Sexuality, Reproduction and the State: Fighting Back Against the So-Called Law (DP x S25)

A disability rights group has submitted over 23,000 signatures to JR Kyushu, urging an investigation and stronger safety measures following the death of a visually impaired woman at Tsukumi Station in Ōita Prefecture three years ago. The woman was struck by a limited express train during unstaffed hours in December 2022. The group, comprising people with visual and physical disabilities, also delivered a written statement reflecting concerns from visually impaired passengers. During a meeting at JR Kyushu’s Ōita branch, members called for clear rescue protocols for falls from platforms. Co-representative lawyer Yasuyuki Tokuda urged JR to take the voices of disabled passengers seriously.

Episode notes:

‘23,000 Sign Petition Demanding Safety Reforms After Death of Blind Woman at JR Tsukumi Station’:

https://barrierfreejapan.com/2025/08/09/23000-sign-petition-demanding-safety-reforms-after-death-of-blind-woman-at-jr-tsukumi-station/


23,000 Sign Petition Demanding Safety Reforms After Death of Blind Woman at JR Tsukumi Station

t’s Obon! Although there is an interesting article about how In June, Japan enacted the Act on the Promotion of Measures Concerning Sign Language, a law aimed at advancing the acquisition and use of sign language and preserving sign language culture. Building on the 2011 amendment to the Basic Act for Persons with Disabilities, which recognized sign language as a language, and the spread of local ordinances such as Kanagawa Prefecture’s 2015 Sign Language Ordinance, the new legislation clarifies the responsibilities of national and local governments. It mandates securing opportunities for learning sign language, training interpreters, enhancing education, and ensuring cultural transmission. The law has prompted municipalities such as Yokohama to strengthen interpreter placement and related services, while deaf advocacy groups are calling for further expansion, particularly the assignment of interpreters to all ward offices.

Episode notes:

‘Deaf Advocacy Groups in Japan Hopes New Law Leads to Expanded Support’:

https://barrierfreejapan.com/2025/08/14/deaf-advocacy-groups-in-japan-hopes-new-law-leads-to-expanded-support/


Bring Out Your Dead on No News Obon!

Welcome to Where Am I? The Producer’s Cut! 
In this special episode, Producer, Ellie Violet takes you behind the scenes, sharing exclusive insights and never-before-heard content with Lima and Jamal- plus music from incredible artists living with disability from around the world. Listen to the full episodes of Where Am I? on Radio Skid Row's SoundCloud!

Where Am I? The Producers Cut

Kobe City announced on August 14th, that in fiscal year 2024, it received a total of 21 reports of abuse of persons with disabilities at psychiatric hospitals, and recognized one of them as a case of abuse. Following the revision of the Mental Health and Welfare Act, from fiscal year 2024 onward, prefectures and government-designated cities are required to publicly disclose the status of abuse occurring at psychiatric hospitals.

Episode notes:

‘Following Revision of Mental Health Legislation in 2024, Kobe City Receives 21 Reports, Recognizes 1 Case of Abuse of People with Disabilities at Psychiatric Hospitals’:

https://barrierfreejapan.com/2025/08/16/following-revision-of-mental-health-legislation-in-2024-kobe-city-receives-21-reports-recognizes-1-case-of-abuse-of-people-with-disabilities-at-psychiatric-hospitals/


Kobe City receives total of 21 reports of abuse of persons with disabilities at psychiatric hospitals, only 1 recognized

This episode was recorded live at the 2025 Socialism Conference in Chicago, where we collaborated with conference organizers to host four discussions over the first weekend in July. All four recordings are now available for Death Panel patrons at www.patreon.com/deathpanelpod

For a longer discussion of some of the themes addressed in this session, see our episode Love in a Fucked Up World w/ Dean Spade (04/21/25), available in the patron feed here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/127162993

Dean Spade on Community Care in the Face of Collapse (DP x S25)
feat. Beatrice, Dean Spade

Session description: In a world unraveling under capitalism, climate catastrophe, and state violence, how do we build real care and solidarity? Dean Spade will discuss approaches to survival and resistance explored in his books Love in a F*cked Up World, Mutual Aid, and Normal Life—breaking through denial, confronting rising fascism, unlearning liberalism’s grip on our politics, rejecting the false promises of reform, and the urgent need to organize outside and against the state in order to cultivate community care in the face of collapse.

Editor's Note: Beatrice's audio at the beginning is from backup audio, and gets better partway through the recording. Dean's audio is more clear and his presentation starts around 7 minutes into the recording.

Thanks to Han Olliver for our Death Panel x Socialism Conference 2024 poster image, which is being used as the cover image for this episode on platforms that support it. Find and support Han's work at www.hanolliver.com

Find our book Health Communism here: www.versobooks.com/books/4081-health-communism

Find Tracy's book, Abolish Rent, here: www.haymarketbooks.org/books/2443-abolish-rent

Find Phil's new book, Counting Like a State, here: kansaspress.ku.edu/9780700639687/

Death Panel merch here (patrons get a discount code): www.deathpanel.net/merch

As always, support Death Panel at www.patreon.com/deathpanelpod

Dean Spade on Community Care in the Face of Collapse (DP x S25)

In Hiroshima City, at a support facility that takes care of children with disabilities, abuse such as hitting a child on the buttocks was found to have occurred. In addition, improper receipt of benefit payments was confirmed. As a result, the city has taken administrative action, including revoking the operator’s authorization.

Episode notes:

‘After Cases of Abuse are Discovered, Hiroshima Support Facility for Children with Disabilities Faces Administrative Action’:

https://barrierfreejapan.com/2025/08/19/after-cases-of-abuse-are-discovered-hiroshima-support-facility-for-children-with-disabilities-faces-administrative-action/


Hiroshima Support Facility for Children with Disabilities Faces ‘Administrative Action’ After Abuse Discovered

Born Able is more than just a song - it’s a movement. Written and performed straight from the heart, this track was born on stage at the National Disability Services #DisabilityAtWork Conference, where I found the courage to turn unused creativity into a voice for empowerment.

The song is about reminding ourselves that we are all born able—able to create, able to connect, and able to rise above fear. 🎶💪

🎧 Listen now on SoundCloud and let the lyrics inspire you to unlock your own creativity.
💬 Share your story of courage in the comments—how have you stepped into your own power?
🔗 Tag a friend who needs to hear this today.

Let’s spread the message together: We are ALL Born Able. 🌍💫

Born Able

Digital technology is set to play an exciting role at the Tokyo Deaflympics in November, with organizers aiming to create an immersive experience that engages athletes and spectators with hearing impairments. Sounds such as those made when a ball is hit, or when fans cheer, are translated into onomatopoeic words and displayed at the table tennis venue during the Deaflympics. Monitors near the table display written characters in sync with the decisive moments of a match, offering a more immersive and visually engaging experience for spectators. 

An after-school day service facility for children with disabilities in Hiroshima City has been penalized after staff, including the operator’s representative, were found to routinely use wrestling moves, shouting, and hitting as a supposed form of “communication” with children—behaviour described by a former employee as a daily occurrence and treated as “part of a game.” Hiroshima City has suspended the operator Watanohana for three months.

Episode Notes:

‘Abuse was “part of a game” at Hiroshima Support Facility for Children with Disabilities Facing Administrative Action’:

https://barrierfreejapan.com/2025/08/21/abuse-was-part-of-a-game-at-hiroshima-support-facility-for-children-with-disabilities-facing-administrative-action/

‘Deaflympics: Tech innovation to immerse athletes, spectators in sport’:

https://barrierfreejapan.com/2025/08/14/deaflympics-tech-innovation-to-immerse-athletes-spectators-in-sport/



Games with people with disabilities in Japan; both technological and abusive

tha0ie is an Australian songwriter, rapper, singer from Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. tha0ie is on a mission to spread uplifting rap music by entertaining and inspiring the next generation through her experiences.

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.

Politics, culture, and public policy from the left. Stay alive another week.

w/ Beatrice Adler-Bolton, Artie Vierkant, Phil Rocco and Jules Gill-Peterson. 

https://www.patreon.com/deathpanelpod

Radio Skid Row is a grassroots community radio station based in Marrickville, broadcasting to the Inner City Sydney. This includes the municipalities of Leichhardt, Marrickville and the City of Sydney.
Radio Skid Row plays some of the best hip hop and reggae you will hear on air Sydney. we also broadcast in 15 languages!

Our SoundCloud page invites you to listen to programs, interviews and segments.

New tracks tagged #Disability