Ritsu YAMAMURA

Ritsu YAMAMURA is an Associate Professor at the Department of Public Policy and Affaires, Nihon University College of Law in Tokyo, Japan. Her research focuses on social policies for people with disabilities, particularly the comparative analysis of policy frameworks between Japan, European countries, and Korea. She investigates the shift from cause-based to need-based systems in social service provision and their implications for marginalized groups. During her 2020 visit to the Fondation France-Japon (FFJ), she conducted research on Japan’s positioning between these policy frameworks, emphasizing unresolved challenges in integrating diverse disability needs.

Her work addresses issues such as disability definition, exclusionary policies, and the overlap between disability and aging populations. Methodologically, she employs literature reviews, interviews with stakeholders, and cost-benefit analyses. Notable publications include studies on reasonable accommodation, wage policies for disabled individuals, and employment support models.

Yamamura’s research highlights Japan’s fragmented disability policies and the need for systemic reform. Despite the pandemic disrupting planned FFJ collaborations, her work contributes to global debates on inclusive social policy design.