The authors stitch together the disabled and non-disabled experience of the pandemic using the notion of empathy (i.e. understanding and internalization of the disabled experienced by non-disabled populations) to discuss how a more inclusive society is achievable through this shared pandemic experience. Through a cross-cultural comparison of two countries globally seen as success stories during the pandemic, this book analyses 2020-2021 data to unveil the sociocultural and political factors that guided decision makers and to explore how different approaches created different outcomes. An invaluable read for academics and practitioners working in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion areas with an interest in Asian Studies, Japanese Studies, Disability Studies, and Global Health.

Mark Ross Bookman (1991–2022) was an academic and disability activist with expertise in history, Japan Studies, and Disability Studies. His work has been published in Japanese Studies, The Journal of Japanese Studies and Disability Studies Quarterly. His monograph, Disability Publics: Making Accessibility in Modern Japan, was published by Oxford University Press in 2025. He served on the Association for Asian Studies’ Diversity and Equity Committee, and the board of directors of the Disability History Association and the Society for Disability Studies.