What is barrier-free?

What is Barrier-Free?

The term "barrier-free" has been used in Europe since the 1950s, and in the United States, it gained traction when President John F. Kennedy enacted the Barrier-Free Act in 1961 for wounded veterans of the Korean War. In Japan, three years later, during the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics, the stark difference in awareness regarding barrier-free design compared to the rest of the world was keenly felt, and since then, it has developed in various forms.

The literal translation of "barrier-free" is "to remove obstacles," and it is formally defined as "removing anything that acts as an obstacle for the elderly and people with disabilities to lead social lives" (quoted from Daijirin). Specifically, there are many things that are now integrated into society as a matter of course, such as wheelchair ramps and handrails to aid walking.

Today, in addition to physical barrier-free design, invisible forms of barrier-free design, such as social systems and people's attitudes, are also drawing attention. The aim is to create a society where all people can live independently, regardless of disability, age, or gender. To achieve this, it is necessary to respect each other and realize social infrastructure that removes as many barriers as possible.

In 2021, after more than half a century, the Olympic and Paralympic Games will once again be held in Tokyo. We strongly hope that this time, Japan's barrier-free initiatives will amaze the world.