Abstract

In 2019, Japan enacted the Reading Barrier-Free Law, also known as the Act on the Promotion of a Reading Environment for the Visually Impaired, as a stand-alone law to ensure that everyone can enjoy reading without discrimination. This study analyzes the process and content of Japan’s reading barrier-free law and examines the independent legislation process and policy implementation in Japan to determine its impact and effectiveness. In particular, it examines how public libraries in Japan, which play a central role in reading welfare, are developing and mplementing related policies and draws implications that can be applied to Korea. Although Japan’s Barrier-Free Law has limitations in that it is limited to people with disabilities, and there is no compulsion to improve the environment, resulting in a low participation rate of local governments, it has been significant in it has spread awareness of the social role of the reading disadvantaged and the importance of reading welfare. Based on the results of this study, we discuss the necessity of enacting a separate law targeting various reading marginalized groups in Korea in the future.