Tokyo, Out to Make Art and Culture Accessible for All

On November 5, Tokyo outlined its commitment to making art and cultural experiences more accessible to all. This initiative comes in preparation for two significant upcoming events in 2025: the World Athletics Championships and the Deaflympics. 

The press event was hosted by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government (TMG) and the Tokyo Metropolitan Foundation for History and Culture (TMFHC).  Representatives highlighted their efforts to make the metropolis a diverse cultural hub accessible to all residents and visitors.

Broadening Cultural Experiences

"Our goal is to make Tokyo a city where all can enjoy art and culture," shared Kaori Sahara, Director of Cultural Program Planning and Coordination. She opened the briefing with a discussion on the joint initiative by TMG, TMFHC, and the Arts Council Tokyo. This collaborative project draws on practices worldwide to ensure that the city's cultural scene is as embracive as possible. In particular, it focuses on supporting people with disabilities.

Sahara emphasized the legacy of the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, which inspired the metropolitan government's ongoing commitment to "promote a symbiotic society through art." Their effort is guided by the Sign Language Act of 2022, which mandates support for inclusive cultural experiences across public facilities. 

Sahara noted, "We are enhancing support for cultural experiences in public facilities, launching a new grant project, and providing resources for private-sector organizations." The initiative also focuses on training interpreters and sign language experts, making it easier for individuals with visual and hearing impairments to engage with art.

Accessibility Strategy

Yuriko Komai, section manager of the Tokyo Arts Council's accessibility team, expanded on the initiative's three-pronged strategy. "We're focusing on three key stages: information support, viewing support, and participation support," she said. According to Komai, these stages ensure that everyone, regardless of background or experience, can fully engage with the arts.

The council began with information support in 2023, ensuring that people unfamiliar with Tokyo's cultural offerings can easily access relevant information. In 2024, their focus has shifted to viewing support, which enables audiences to fully experience and appreciate art. From 2025, the team will prioritize participation support, encouraging active involvement in the arts, including as artists or event organizers.

Komai highlighted several initiatives already in place. Among them are "tactile maps, auditory guides, and QD Laser's RETISSA ON HAND, a device for visual support." Komai explained, "Our goal is to create a welcoming cultural environment where everyone can enjoy art." 

She also noted that cultural facilities now provide accessible materials, including videos with sign language, subtitles, and audio guides. Simplified Japanese translations are also available for better understanding. Additionally, each facility has appointed a social inclusion officer to oversee these efforts and help address visitors' unique needs.

Fostering Diversity Through Art

Tokyo Shibuya Koen-dori Gallery, represented by Kaoru Ouchi, has embraced its mission to promote diversity through art. "Our gallery directly connects with the street, making art more accessible," she said. Opened in 2020, the gallery embodies inclusivity through exhibitions, exchanges, and outreach programs.

Ouchi highlighted the gallery's commitment to Art Brut, a genre focused on self-taught artists, as a means to showcase diverse creativity. "This year marks the fifth Art Brut exhibition, featuring both established and new artists," she explained. In addition to Art Brut, the gallery has showcased creativity in everyday spaces, like origami and crafts, as part of its ongoing commitment to accessible art.

 "We're aiming to make art accessible to all," she added. Plans are in the works for workshops, residency programs, and inclusive programs like tactile art installations and remote-controlled robots for those who cannot visit in person.

Support for Women and Emerging Artists

Yuko Ishiwata of the Activity Support Division presented the initiative "Support for Artistic and Cultural Appreciation for Women." The program began two years ago to support women in the arts through full funding for selected projects. It prioritizes performances over lectures. "This year, 40% of applicants requested multilingual support," Ishiwata reported.

Funding requests have averaged ¥1.07 million JPY (approximately $7,000 USD) per project, with many applicants focused on theater, musicals, and Japanese traditional performing arts. Ishiwata acknowledged challenges, saying, "The revised Disabilities Discrimination Act has heightened awareness of accessibility needs, prompting us to better support people with visual or hearing impairments." However, there are obstacles, including the shortage of skilled professionals such as sign language interpreters, that need to be addressed.

Innovative Accessibility in Theater

To make theater accessible to everyone, the Haiyuza Theatre Company has introduced an innovative program, as Komai explained. For a recently concluded adaptation of King Lear, the company implemented a live description system that enabled visually impaired audiences to follow the performance. "This system requires specialized facilities, like an audio operation room," Komai elaborated, highlighting the technical challenges involved.

Funding for accessible performances remains an issue. Komai noted, "The audio guide service alone costs ¥300,000 ($1,950), but only a few people are able to use it." She called on external partners to provide additional support.

Training and Development

Tokyo's cultural strategy also includes robust training programs for professionals in the arts field. Representatives explained that the program seeks to train more sign language interpreters and other specialists for the arts and culture sectors. "The training consists of eight intensive sessions, with four hours of content each and additional homework," they shared.

With six sessions completed, participants are now actively applying their skills in cultural facilities across the metropolis. This specialized training program helps address the shortage of qualified professionals. Moreover, it ensures that Tokyo's cultural institutions are prepared to support diverse audiences in the future.

Outreach and Awareness Challenges

Nevertheless, officials acknowledged that the actual usage of accessibility programs remains low. They attribute this in part to a lack of public awareness. During the Q&A session, one representative noted, "Many people are still unaware of the available resources or unsure whether they'll be accepted by the facilities." To address this, Tokyo plans to enhance communication and increase partnerships with private sector groups to broaden accessibility efforts.

Tokyo remains committed to fostering a truly inclusive cultural environment. With ¥6 million ($39,000) allocated for support programs in 2024 and plans to maintain this funding in the future, the city is on a mission to create an arts scene that welcomes everyone. One panelist emphasized, "Helping people engage with art directly fosters further exploration and understanding."

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Author: Daniel Manning