About Japan...                                   

Japan is an island nation, roughly the size of California, that stretches from cool Hokkaido in the far north to the sub-tropical Ryukyu (Okinawa) islands in the far south.  Located near the Koreas and the Russian Far East, Japan is surrounded by the Norht Pacific Ocean, Sea of Japan, Philippine Sea and East China Sea. Japan is divided into 47 prefectures in nine regions.  Each region has its own dialect, customs, and unique culture, but all are Japanese.  Although there are hundreds of islands in Japan, the four main islands are Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu. Major cities are concentrated in the plains, although mountainous areas make up more than 70% of Japan's land. The capital city of Tokyo is the commercial and political hub of Japan, but many would argue that the soul of Japan is in Kyoto.Japanese culture dates back thousands of years and is steeped in history and tradition giving it a rich and mysterious quality that has intrigued travellers for centuries.

Learn More About Japan... Discover more about Japan's history, culture, language and geography by visiting the following websites: Web Japan BBC Japan Country Profile World Factbook Lonely Planet IIE Passport

Disability Organizations in Japan

Japan is considered a somewhat accessible country for people with disabilities. The Disabled Persons’ Fundamental Law provides protections to ensure the full participation of people with disabilities socially, culturally, economically and in other aspects of life. Many public places in the larger cities, including major museums, airport, subways and elevators feature Japanese Braille signage and tactile paths on most sidewalks.

Many disability organizations in Japan are listed below.  To find more, search the Mobility International USA Database.

Footloose
3-13-3-101 Unoki Ota-ku
Tokyo 146 JAPAN
Tel: (81-3) 5741-1135    Fax: (81-3) 5741-1137
E-mail: footloose@y7.net

Footloose is a disability rights organization working on disability issues in Japan.

Inclusion Japan
8F Zenkoku Tobacco Center Bldg.
2-16-1 Nishi-shinbashi
Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-0003
Tel: (81-3) 3431-0668     Fax: (81-3) 3578-6935
E-mail: ikuseikai@pop06.odn.ne.jp

Inclusion Japan was developed by parental organizations for people with cognitive disabilities.  Activities include consultation, community workshops, information dissemination, and research and training.

Japan Deaf-Blind Association
2-8-B1, Nishiwaseda 2-chome
Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-0051
Tel: (81-3) 5272-1691     Fax: (81-3) 5272-1692

The Japan Deaf-Blind Association trains, educates and assigns interpreters, publishes braille and enlarged publications, and conducts public relations.

Japan National Assembly of Disabled Peoples' International
5th Floor Musashino Building, 3-11-8
Kanda-nichiki-cho
Ciyoda, Tokyo 101-0054
Tel: (81-3) 5282-3730     Fax: (81-3) 5282-0017

Japan National Assembly of Disabled Peoples' International works on independent living issues including inclusive education and anti-discriminatory laws.

Japanese Federation of the Deaf
Zen Nihon Rou-A Renmei
SK Building, 130 Yamabuki-cho, Shinjuku-ku
Tokyo 162-0801 JAPAN
Tel: (81-3) 3268-8847    Fax: (81-3) 3267-3445
E-mail: info@jfd.or.jp    

The Japanese Federation of the Deaf advocates for the hearing-impaired in Japan.

The Kanagawa Research Institute of Learning Disabilities
Homest Plaza Suite E-204
801-8 Tohkalchiba-machi, Midori-ku
Yokohama 226-0025
Tel: (81-45) 984-7910  Fax: (81-45) 981-5054
E-mail: kanald@246.ne.jp

The Institute began as a parental support group that now provides individual/group instruction, conducts research into the education of children with LD, trains LD specialists, and promotes social awareness of LD.

Nationwide Support Center for Students with Disabilities
A-107, 2-28-2 Morino, Machida-shi
Tokyo 194-0022 JAPAN
Tel/Fax: (81) 42-720-0027  
E-mail: mail1@mua.biglobe.ne.jp  

The Nation-wide Support Center for Students with Disabilities (NSCSD) provides information to students with disabilities studying in Japan. (Some charges may apply to non-members for services.)

Party-Party
Oyodo Ku Bed Tsu East 3-6-10
Osaka City 556-0012 JAPAN
Tel/Fax: (81-3) 6649-0455
E-mail: mail@e-sora.net  

Party-Party provides daily life support for people with disabilities and lift-van services.

Research Institute - National Rehabilitation Center for Persons with Disabilities
4-1 Namiki
Tokorozawa-City
Saitama-Pref. 359-8555
Tel: (81-4) 2995-3100     Fax: (81-4) 2995-3132

Provides information and reources through its Departments of Motor Dysfunction, Sensory & Communicative Disorder, Assistive Technology, Rehabilitation Engineering, Social Rehabilitation, and Prosthetics and Orthotics.

• Tourette Syndrome Association of Japan
  Michito Takagi, Director
  4-24-10-406 Hon-Cho
  Kokubunji, Tokyo 185-0012, Japan
  Tel/Fax: + 81-42-325-4785
  Email: fushicho-21c@dab.hi-ho.ne.jp
  

Wakakoma Independent Living Information Center
916-2 Naganumacho     
Hachioji, Tokyo 192-0907, JAPAN
Fax:   (+81)-426-32-7273 (from abroad)     
E-mail: info@wakakoma.org   

The Wakakoma Independent Living Information Center is an NGO operated by individuals with disabilities to assist others to live independently and join in social activities. Their guide notes the accessibility of lodging, transportation, shopping, and points of interest.  It also gives useful information on medical services and emergency procedures.

Other Information:

Some Japanese facilities are designed to fit wheelchairs that are 25.6 inches wide. It may be difficult to use larger wheelchairs in the country. Taking a compact chair is recommended.

Remember that it is customary to remove shoes before entering a Japanese house. Please clean wheelchair wheels before entering as well.

Exchange Opportunities

Language Schools

Why learn to speak Japanese?  Japanese is spoken by tens of millions of people in Japan and is considered one of the major languages of international business!Immerse yourself not only in the language, but the culture, history and daily life of this ancient island culture.  There is no better way to learn a language than to live where it is spoken EVERY DAY!There are hundreds of programs and schools located all over Japan from Sapporo to Ishigaki. Learn Japanese in the mountains amongst Buddhist temples, near white-sand beaches, in a rural village or an ultra-modern metropolis  - the choice is yours!

To find a Japanese Language school, follow the links below or 'google' "Japanese Language schools"

Japanese Language School Guide
Comprehensive list of schools listed by prefecture

Study Japan

World Link Institute Japan

Studying in Japan

Language Guide - Get a head start on Japanese and many other languages!

Japanese Schools for Students with Disabilities

• Tsukuba College of Technology - Division for the Hearing Impaired (Amakubo Campus)
  4-3-15 Amakubo, Tsukuba-shi
  Ibaraki-ken, 305-0005 JAPAN
  Tel: (81-2) 9852-2931    Fax: (81-2) 9858-9312
  Web: www.tsukuba-tech.ac.jp
• Tsukuba College of Technology - Division for the Visually Impaired (Kasuga Campus)
  4-12-7 Kasuga, Tsukuba-shi
  Ibaraki-ken, 305-0821 JAPAN
  Tel: (81-2) 9858-9508    Fax: (81-2) 9858-9517
  E-mail: kyoumuk@ad.tsukuba-tech.ac.jp 
  
  Tsukuba College of Technology (TCT) is a three-year college for young people with hearing or vision disabilities. TCT offers courses in engineering, information science, physical therapy and more. The college has conducted exchanges with the National Technical Institute for the Deaf at Rochester Institute of Technology and with State University of New York at Buffalo.

Financial Aid and Funding

Find Resources and Search Engines on the MIUSA Financial Aid and Fundraising List . You may also be able to use Vocational Rehabilitation Funding and Social Security Benefits for your exchange.

Atsumi International Scholarship Foundation
3-5-8 Sekiguchi
Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo
112-0014 JAPAN
Tel: (81-3) 3943-7612  Fax: (81-3) 3943-1512
Email: aisf@sh0.po.iijnet.or.jp 

There are various scholarship opportunities available for students of any nationality who would like to study in Japan. Please refer to the information located at this website to find out which scholarships would be most compatible with your interests. Contact this organization to find out further information. 

Bridging Project Clearinghouse
Association of Teachers of Japanese
Campus Box 279
240 Humanities Building
University of Colorado
Boulder, CO 80309-0279
Tel: (303) 492-5487   Fax: (303) 492-5856
Email: atj@colorado.edu   

Undergraduate students majoring in any field of study and attending any recognized exchange or independent program in Japan are eligible to apply for Bridging Scholarships for Study Abroad in Japan.  Scholarships of up to $4000 are awarded to assist with living expenses while in studying in Japan. 

Freeman-Asia Awards
Institute of International Education (IIE)
809 United Nations Plaza
New York, NY  10017-3580
Tel: (212) 883-8200 or (212) 984-5380 Fax:  (212) 984-5452

Freeman-ASIA (Freeman Awards for Study in Asia) is designed to support American undergraduates with demonstrated financial need who are planning on studying overseas in East or Southeast Asia.

Japan Foundation New York Office
Carnegie Hall Tower
152 West 57th Street, 39th Floor
New York, NY 10019
Tel: (212) 489-0299   Fax: (212) 489-0409
Email: info@jfny.org  

The Japan Foundation offers fellowships for scholars, researchers and professionals to conduct research in Japan.

Waseda University in Japan offers a good, comprehensive list of scholarship opportunities to study in Japan. You can also check out their undergraduate and graduate opportunities on this site.

Fulbright Academic Exchange Programs

Fulbright grants are offered to US citizens for a variety of educational activities: primarily university lecturing, advanced research, graduate study and teaching in elementary and secondary schools. Contact the organization for information on how to apply.  CIES administers faculty and professional programs, while IIE administers graduate student Fulbright programs.

Council for International Exchange of Scholars
Fulbright Foundation
3007 Tilden Street NW, Suite 5L
Washington, DC 20008-3009
Tel: (202) 686-4000   Fax: (202) 362-3442
Email: scholars@cies.iie.org

Institute of International Education
809 United Nations Plaza
New York, NY  10017-3580
Tel: (212) 883-8200 or (212) 984-5380 Fax:  (212) 984-5452
Email: pkerrigan@iie.org    

Disability Websites:

Japanese Red Cross Language Service Volunteers has information on accessibility in Tokyo, Kyoto and Kamakura on this website. It includes information on disability organizations, wheelchair repair and rental resources, guidebooks, medical resources, English-speaking pharmacies and more.

Disabilities Information Resources lists numerous disability resources in Japan on this website.

The Deaf Resource Library is an online collection of reference material and links intended to educate and inform people about Deaf cultures and issues in Japan and the United States.

Information Resources for People with Disabilities is a compilation of websites by an individual on various organizations and individuals' with disabilities websites.

Japan AIDS Prevention Awareness Network provides newletters, information on AIDS/HIV testing and hotlines. and Japanetwork which taches about HIV/AIDS in EFL classrooms.

Autism Society Japan

Site Visits on Accessibility:

• MIUSA site visit studies

Access Abroad site visit studies

Stories and Links:

• Personal Stories of Japan Exchange Participants  on our on-line AWAY Magazine
• Peer Network - Talk to a Peer who has been to Japan

StudyAbroad.com

Although efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, MIUSA/NCDE cannot be held liable for inaccuracy, misinterpretation or complaints arising from these listings. Mention of an organization, company, service or resource should not be construed as an endorsement by MIUSA/NCDE. Please advise NCDE of any inaccuracies you may find.