Researchers and activists from South Korea, Japan, China and Taiwan met at Soonchunhyang University, Asan, South Korea on 25 and 26 October and discussed issues related to postmodernism and disability. The Research Center for Ars Vivendi of Ritsumeikan University represented the group from Japan. The topics included (1) postmodernism and theory, (2) the role of the technology, (3) consumer culture, and (4) the future of disability studies. East Asia Disability Forum meets every year hosted in different places (http://www.arsvi.com/a/kjdsf.htm). The next meeting of the Forum will meet in Taipei from 4 to 7 October 2018 on the topic of “play”.
In this issue, we would to share with you two interesting books.
Some quotes from this book covering the activities of the Disablement Income Group (DIG) are as follows;
“The perception that disabled people were worthy of statutory welfare changed during the welfare state. But it is possible that popular perceptions did not, or that they reverted to rejection and prejudice in the late 1970s.” (p. 234)
“Nostalgia is a memory tinted with the hues of desire. This book should serve to dispel rose-colored notions about a now fallen utopian welfare state. (p. 244)
The author, an American, tells us his very personal experience of being a foreigner with disabilities in Japan and much more. Interestingly, our member, Nagase, appears a couple times. You can read some excerpts at;
http://lithub.com/a-journey-to-the-heart-of-old-japan/
https://www.kennyfries.com/works/