Abstract
<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title> <jats:p>Disability Publics uses modern and recent history to intervene in current debates about accessibility and disability inclusion in Japan. This book argues that the achievements of activists and policymakers have sometimes excluded groups of disabled people, despite their inclusive goals. Through these sociopolitical processes, various “disability publics” have been created, for which Japanese activists, lawmakers, and other stakeholders have fought (and rebelled against) over the past 150 years. Some of these publics’ discourses include questions like: who defines accessibility in Japan? Why do people accept their definitions? How do their actions affect individuals with diverse bodies and minds? And if somebody wants to change a definition of accessibility, how do they do it? Mark Bookman argues that Japan’s oft-praised “Barrier-Free Society” came into being through disability publics that were shaped by specific social, political, and economic circumstances. While these pressures are described in the Japanese context, they are not exclusive to Japan, meaning that this study of Japanese disability publics provides lessons for other countries working to create a more inclusive international society.</jats:p>