from ‘barrier free’ to ‘age-friendly’

Ayuk E. Christian

Vice President

Friends of IFA

FOIFA Japan

the ‘barrier free’ concept in Japan

Removing all physical, social, systemic, psychological and

information obstacles

From the basic plan for handicap people. Cabinet Decision of Dec. 24, 2002

mobility vision hearing communication cognition

population ageing in Japan

Tokyo Kyoto Hiroshima

Nagoya

Sendai

Akita

2010

Total population: 128,060,000

Seniors 65+: 29,453,800 (23%)

2030

Total population: 116,620,000

Seniors 65+: 36,850,000 (32%)

Source: Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (Oct. 2012)

‘barrier free’ laws in Japan

1. ‘heartful’ building law (1994) Buildings must be accessible and usable by the elderly and

physically handicapped

2. ‘transportation barrier free law’ (2000) Create measures that improve the use of public transportation

and public facilities

3. ‘new barrier free law’ (2006) Combination of ‘heartful building law’ and ‘transportation

barrier free law

requirements of a ‘heartful’ building

the ‘ transportation barrier free law’

elevators escalators

Creating barrier free transport facilities Introduce car structures designed for people with disabilities

Non-step bus Wheelchair lift bus

Developing road transport environments

Install guide blocks Zero level differences

‘new barrier free law’

‘heartful building law’

‘transportation barrier

free law’

Urban renewal

planning

shift of concept

‘barrier free’

• Priority focuses on removing physical barriers

• Provide handicap accessible

• Modify existing designs

‘universal design’

• Incorporates accessibility and usability for those with

or without disabilities in the planning stage

towards an age friendly akita city

population ageing in akita city

Tokyo Kyoto Hiroshima

Nagoya

Sendai

2010

Total

population:

323,600

Seniors 65+: 77,879 (24%)

2030

Total

population:

259,483

Seniors 65+: 95,027 (36%)

Akita

Prefecture

Akita

City

Source: Akita City Office

the approach

• establish an age-friendly committee

- consult with seniors

- assess already existing designs

- raise awareness

- consult with key stakeholders & international

experts

- implement an action plan

‘one-coin’ bus service

Start: Oct. 2011

Age: 70+

Amendment: Oct. 2013

Age: 68+

Yen =

‘care support’ volunteer scheme

Start: 2012

Registered senior

volunteer workers

2012 2013 2014 Dec. 2015

224 280 358 396

65+ can do volunteer

work in nursing homes or

care facilities.

Annual Reward

5,000yen (40USD)

age-friendly in winter – radiated sidewalks

Total Number of sidewalks (Feb. 2014): 18

Total length: 14,563 meters

akita city age-friendly partnership

Banks

Hospitals Care

facilities

shops

Plazas Hotels

engaging key stakeholders in the business sector to

foster age-friendly implementation effectiveness in

the city

promoting age-friendly in akita city

the path to a more age-friendly akita city

adopt • WHO guidelines

plan • promote early concepts

• consult with experts

implement/act • ‘one-coin’ bus fare

• volunteer schemes

• age-friendly partnership progress

• radiated sidewalks

• create awareness

www.foifa.or.jp