September 12, 2025 Call for Candidate Devices and Services for "Information Accessibility Good Practices 2025"

　In order to promote the spread of accessible ICT devices and services, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) has decided to solicit submissions of ICT devices and services with excellent information accessibility to be designated as "Information Accessibility Good Practices 2025."

Note: The published materials are available in Japanese only.

1. Background and outline

　In order to realize a society where everyone can enjoy the convenience of digital utilization and live a fulfilling life, it is becoming increasingly important to ensure the information accessibility of ICT devices and services.
　To ensure information accessibility, it is vital for companies and public organizations to understand the necessity of such accessibility and to consider how to ensure information accessibility at the development, manufacturing, and procurement stages of ICT devices and services.
　Based on this, the MIC is designating ICT devices and services with excellent information accessibility as "Information Accessibility Good Practices 2025," for the purpose of promoting the spread of accessible ICT devices and services.

2. Application period

　From Friday, September 12, 2025, to Friday, November 14, 2025, 17:00

3. Applicable products and services

　ICT devices and services that meet all the requirements (1) through (3) below are eligible:

(1) ICT devices and services designed with consideration for information accessibility*
 * Information accessibility means that anyone, regardless of their age or disability, can obtain and use information and communicate with others. Applicable ICT devices and services are those designed with information accessibility in mind and which are for (i) the public, (ii) people with disabilities or their helpers, and (iii) the elderly or their helpers.

(2) Each ICT device or service mentioned in (1) above must be developed, manufactured, and sold by a company as its own product and must fall under one of the following categories: (If a company incorporates technologies, components, software, etc. from other companies into its final product, that product is also eligible for evaluation.)
  (a) Personal computers (products that comply with JIS X 8341-2)　
  (b) Web content and applications (products that comply with JIS X 8341-3/WCAG 2.1)
  (c) Telecommunications equipment* (products that comply with JIS X 8341-4)
  (d) Office equipment (products that comply with JIS X 8341-5)
  (e) Interactive software (products that comply with JIS X 8341-6)
 * Telecommunications equipment refers to equipment related to telecommunications that is directly operated by users of telecommunications services. A new concept product or product group that does not fall under the category of conventional telecommunications equipment is considered to fall under (c) if it has functions typically found in conventional telecommunications equipment.

(3) The ICT device or service must be sold or provided to businesses or consumers at the time of the application. Note that only functions that have already been implemented shall be applicable, so functions, etc. that are currently under development shall not be eligible for evaluation.

(4) Companies can submit one product.

(5) In principle, devices or services that have already been evaluated as having information accessibility good practices in the past are not eligible for application.

4. How to apply

　Please fill out the application form provided in the application guidelines, and send it by email to the address in "5. Where to submit."
 * To apply, you must attend the "Corporate Seminar for Promoting Information Accessibility" (Basic and Practical Sessions) - archived viewing.

< Attachments >
Information Accessibility Self-Evaluation Forms (*) (Forms 1-1 and 1-2 ) "Information Accessibility Good Practices 2025" Application Materials (Form 2 )　
 * Forms published by the MIC that explain how companies should self-evaluate the accessibility of their ICT devices and services.

< Corporate Seminar for Promoting Information Accessibility > Please enter the passcode (31997082) to view it.
(Basic Session)
https://cu-nri.zoom.us/rec/share/ueI4iAuTBizNe4uYiec45qd5vCjCov8ehohWNP6OQLDcolyfppPdTQ_mwOmFiuGl.7MuaYWPjM0zUjxiG?startTime=1699430234000
(Practical Session)
https://cu-nri.zoom.us/rec/share/wW9iTncIvM5LFjM8jfPDLIxK9CQ8I3KJp2HW8CrCwYZbzn8mf8tYqrLsckJ0IGs.1I-SL6_VFS7uT-36?startTime=1700549465000

5. Where to submit

Operations Office for "Information Accessibility Good Practices 2025" Nomura Research Institute, Ltd.
Email: accessibility_seminar2025/atmark/nri.co.jp
* The "@" symbol is represented as "/atmark/" to prevent spam emails. Please replace it with "@" when sending emails.
The subject line of your email should be "Information Accessibility Good Practices 2025 – Application for candidate product/service."

6. Evaluation criteria

　The ICT devices and services to be selected as "Information Accessibility Good Practices 2025" will be evaluated by a review committee consisting of academic experts, industry organizations, and organizations for people with disabilities, based mainly on the following criteria.
　(Evaluation criteria)

(1) Consideration for information accessibility of a device or service:
 (i) Is the ICT device or service designed to be easy to use by the elderly, persons with disabilities (such as physical disabilities, intellectual disabilities, or developmental disabilities), etc. according to their own conditions and degrees of disabilities?
 (ii) Can the elderly, persons with disabilities, etc. achieve an accessible environment by using the ICT device or service (e.g., does it make it easier for them to move around by themselves or to grasp the content of conversations)?
 (iii) When providing the ICT device or service, are measures taken such as explaining to the elderly and persons with disabilities how to use it through instruction manuals and websites, etc., as well as responding to their inquiries by telephone, email, chat rooms, etc.?

(2) Development based on the needs of stakeholders:
In developing the ICT device or service, are the opinions considered of the elderly and persons with disabilities, etc., their helpers, and the experts who understand their situation?

(3) Efforts to ensure information accessibility as a company policy:
Does the company have measures in place to address information accessibility (e.g., company-wide rules for information accessibility during development or the formation of information accessibility teams)?

7. Publication of evaluation results

　The results are scheduled to be announced around March 2026.