Japan web accessibility

Japan Web Accessibility Laws

Japan has the oldest population in the world, as one in every three individuals in Japan was 65 years or older in 2020. As around 20 percent of the Japanese population has some type of disability, the government enacted legislation in order to cater to a growing need for web accessibility.

JIS X 8341 conformance
The Japanese Industrial Standards (JIS) X 8341 was implemented in 2004 and revised in 2010 to meet international WCAG 2.0 standards of digital accessibility. The full name of the legislation is “JIS X 8341-3:2016—Guidelines for Older Persons and Persons with Disabilities—Information and Communications Equipment, Software, and Services—Part 3: Web Content.”

This guideline, issued by the Japanese Industrial Standards (JIS), provides recommendations for web accessibility and encourages organizations to follow best practices for creating accessible web content. An earlier legislative version, called the Basic Act on the Formation of an Advanced Information and Telecommunications Network Society, was enacted in 2000.

In addition, a nonprofit association, named the Japan Web Accessibility Consortium (JWAC), came together to raise awareness for equal online accessibility for people with disabilities and the elderly. While the legislation deals with the public and private sectors alike, compliance is currently voluntary.

At EqualWeb, we recommend you remediate and audit your website against WCAG 2.1 guidelines to avoid any legal risk and to open your doors to the large population of individuals living with disabilities.