Photo/Illutration Yasuhiko Funago, Japan’s first lawmaker with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), announces his retirement as a statesman on June 17. (Naohito Maeda)

Yasuhiko Funago, a barrier-breaking member of the Upper House who helped make the Diet more accessible for people with disabilities, announced that he will retire at the end of his current term.

Funago, 67, made the announcement on June 17 after serving six years as a lawmaker while living with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a severe neurological disease that causes muscle weakness and paralysis.

The opposition party Reiwa Shinsengumi member cited his age and declining physical strength for deciding not to seek re-election in next month’s poll.

“Since taking office, I have seen both physical and institutional accessibility at the Diet improve significantly,” Funago said. “I’m proud to have helped pave the way for others with serious disabilities to follow.”

Funago also offered a critical view of the political establishment, pointing out the unspoken assumption that legislators must be in perfect physical health.

“The Diet is still a place dominated by the notion that only the physically strong can contribute. That mindset borders on eugenics,” he said. “It’s not right for the nation’s highest decision-making body to be a place where only a small group of able-bodied men can perform their duties.”

Funago was elected in 2019 through a system that allows political parties to prioritize certain candidates for proportional representation, regardless of their individual vote totals.

Appearing in the chamber in a reclining wheelchair and on a ventilator, he has since become a powerful symbol of inclusion in Japanese politics.

Due to his inability to speak orally, Funago participated in parliamentary debates using a computer-generated voice to read pre-written text or by having his aide read speeches he composed using a character board.

Issues that Funago addressed throughout his term include the controversial practice of rejecting students from public high schools even when slot were available. His advocacy helped prompt a nationwide survey by the education ministry.

He also called for changes to health ministry regulations that limited the use of personal care assistants during working hours.

Reiwa Shinsengumi party leader Taro Yamamoto expressed deep gratitude for Funago’s service.

“Just his presence in the Diet prompted important discussions,” Yamamoto said. “He showed the nation that it is possible to participate in politics and drive change, no matter the circumstances.”