By Justin Schroth What does a man that can lift over twice his weight, two Paralympic gold medals, and Kabukiza have in common? That would be Siamand Rahman being photographed at one of Tokyo’s famous Kabuki theaters, for the final addition to The Tokyo Organising Committee’s recognition of Paralympic Athletes. Read more…
By Mark Bookman Although Sumo was officially recognized by the International Olympic Committee in 2018, no matches are scheduled to take places as part of the 2020 Games in Tokyo. Instead, fans are encouraged to travel to official tournaments, which take place six times a year. In this article, I Read more…
By Justin Schroth If you find yourself wandering just east of Osaka, you may find yourself in Nara, one of many cities surrounded by traditional cultural experiences. Over a thousand years ago this city was once the Capital of Japan (from 710 to 794) and all in it was considered Read more…
By Mark Bookman Accessibility affects the way that we interact with religious sites and ideas. A single step up at a church, temple, or shrine can shape the way that a person with a disability uses those spaces, creating new possibilities for community formation. Consider a person who cannot chant Read more…
By Mark Bookman Kabuki theatre is, among other things, an immersive encyclopedia of Japan. Audience members assume the role of pilgrims who are guided through the country’s landmarks, literatures, teachings, and aesthetics by expert actors. In one afternoon, a loyal Kabuki patron can experience epic battles like those fought by Read more…
This past Monday, Accessible Japan was invited to attend a media trip arranged by the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) with support from the Tokyo Organizing Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. The theme of the half-day tour was Tokyo, Old and New, and we toured the city with Read more…