As a young man, Dr. Mark Bookman developed a love for philosophy and Japanese culture through anime, which allowed him to engage with more cerebral and philosophical issues. This interest in Japan propelled him forward to travel to Japan as a high school student, a university student and again as part of his PhD scholarship. Mark was born with a rare degenerative muscle condition that very few people in the world have, and through his love of Eastern philosophy he was able to elucidate the intersections between Buddhism and disability. It was an honour to interview Mark, and listen to his stories of his experiences with disability in Japan, and hear his words of wisdom on issues of accessibility and inclusion that affect everyone. 

In this episode you’ll hear:

• How Mark first came to Japan as a high school student after developing a love for Japanese culture
• How as a philosophy major, he studied Buddhism to understand his own experiences with disability
• His experiences as a university student in Japan finding most campuses and accommodations to be inaccessible
• How making spaces more accessible and inclusive for a diversity of abilities benefits everyone who uses those spaces

About Mark:

An esteemed enjoi Japan thought partner and collaborator on projects intersecting with accessibility, Mark Bookman is a historian of disability policy and related social movements in Japanese and transnational contexts. Currently a Postdoctoral Fellow at Tokyo College, Mark holds PhD and MA degrees from the University of Pennsylvania as well as a BA from Villanova University. Mark’s research has been supported by numerous grants and awards, including a Fulbright U.S. Student Fellowship to Japan and Japan Foundation Doctoral Fellowship.

Mark’s scholarship on disability inclusion can be found in peer-reviewed journals such as Japan Focus: The Asia-Pacific Journal and public-facing media outlets like The Japan Times and Japan Today.

Outside of the academy, Mark also works as an accessibility consultant. He has collaborated with government agencies and corporate entities in Japan, the United States, and Canada, as well as the International Paralympic Committee and United Nations, on projects related to inclusive education, equitable transportation, and disaster risk management for diverse populations of disabled people.

Useful links:

Accessible Japan website: Accessible Japan - アクセシブルジャパン (accessible-japan.com)

Connect with Mark:

Website: https://bookmanresearch.com/ 

Connect with Jackie:

Website: https://en-joi.com/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jackie-f-steele-phd/ 

Facebook: