Japanese live biz focuses on accessibility

Improving accessibility is a new priority for the Japanese music business, as industry associations work with UK-based music charity Attitude is Everything to establish the first steps to becoming more inclusive.

Japanese promoters’ association, the All Japan Concert and Live Entertainment Promoters Conference (ACPC), hosted the charity, which is dedicated to improving deaf and disabled people’s access to live music, as its first international guest at the Tokyo International Music Market (Timm) conference last month.

Attitude is Everything presented five key, universal concepts that underly its work: access is about identity, connection, passion and escapism; accessibility is relevant to everyone; people are disabled by the barriers they encounter; creativity and collaboration are key; and disability affects a diverse range of people, who are the real experts on accessibility.

“Although there are some challenges in terms of budget limitations and venue facilities, let’s get the ball rolling from what we can fo on our own”

A panel discussion entitled ‘Music Without Barriers: Improving Accessibility to Live Entertainment’, followed the presentation, hosted by ACPC, Japanese Music Culture Export and supported by Japan’s British Council.

The panel was moderated by Manami Yuasa, head of arts at British Council Japan and featured panellists Gideon Feldman, head of programming at Attitude is Everything; Jacob Adams, head of research and campaigns at Attitude is Everything; and ACPC director Nobuhiro Nagai.

“Although there are some challenges in terms of budget limitations and venue facilities, let’s get the ball rolling from what we can fo on our own,” urged the panellists.

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