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About the "Help Mark"
                                                                                                           Last updated: 20 Feb, 2024

»Have you ever seen this mark in Japan? 

What is the "Help Mark"?

The Help mark is a symbol created by the Tokyo Metropolitan Bureau of Health and Welfare in 2012, which aims at letting people who need assistance and consideration with hidden disabilities or condition  regardless of their appearance to be able to inform others surrounding them and get help easily.

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The design of the Help Mark:

A white cross and heart are placed up and down inside the red rectangle.

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The copyright of the images shown in both left and right hand sides are owned by the Tokyo Metropolitian Bureau of Health and Welfare. 

Source：The Homepage of the Bureau of Social Welfare and Public Health, Tokyo Metropolitan Government

Who are the target group to be distributed for this Help Mark? 

People using prosthetic legs or artificial joints, those with internal or intractable diseases, mental disorders, intellectual disabilities, or those in early pregnancy are the distribution target of the Help Mark.

If I receive the Help Mark, where should I place it ?

When the designated person receives the Help Mark, it is suggested to attach it to a backpack or bag so that it can be easily seen by others, then attach an information sheet (e.g. the name of the disease or etc.) to the mark. You may refer to one of the examples shown in below.

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Below is the content of the information sheet attached to the Help Mark:

I have intellectual disability.
I get lost with my caregiver.
Please lead me to the nearby Information Center or Police Box to get further assistance. 
Thank you for your assistance.

Where can I get the Help Mark? 

The Help Mark is distributed in the designated areas in Japan, based on the application raised out by the target groups (as stated in the above), or their family / caregivers.

 

＊　Each eligible applicant can receive ONE Help Mark. 

＊　It is unnecessary to present the Handbooks for persons with disabilities or the medical certificate when 

      applying for the Help Mark. (However, some local governments may require the applicants to submit  some

      documents. Please check the details with the local governments.)

＊　It is not allowed to resale the Help Mark. 

＊　Please use the Help Mark appropriately based on the purpose of the help mark.

＊　The distribution of the Help Mark is free of charge. 

 

The distribuion areas of the Help Mark in Tokyo:

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  • Toei Subway Stations (Oedo Line, Asakusa Line, Shinjuku Line, Mita Line)

  • Toei Bus Office

  • Tokyo Sakura Tram (Toden Arakawa Line) Office

  • Nippori-Toneri Liner Station Office

  • Yurikamome station office

  • Tama Intercity Monorail Station Office

  • Tokyo Metropolitan Rehabilitation Center for Persons with Disabilities

  • Tokyo Metropolitan Hospital

Prefectures where the Help Mark has been introduced (other than Tokyo):

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Hokkaido, Aomori,　Akita, Iwate, Yamagata, Miyagi, Tochigi,

Fukushima, Saitama, Ibaraki, Chiba, Niigata, Gunma, Kanagawa, Toyoma, Nagano, Yamanashi, Ishigawa, Gifu, Shizuoka, Fukui, Aichi, Shiga, Mie, Kyoto, Nara, Wakayama, Hyogo, Osaka, Tottori, Okayama, Shimane, Hiroshima, Kagawa, Tokushima, Ehime, Kochi, Yamaguchi, Fukuoka, Oita, Miyazaki, Saga, Nagasaki, Okinawa (Total 44 prefectures)

 

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Almost all of the Help Mark are distributed in the Disability Welfare Division, Public Health Center, General Support Center for persons with disabilities of each Prefecture. For details, please inquire at the Welfare Division of the local Ward Office of your residential region. 

全国のヘルプマークの普及状況（各自治体の配布窓口を含む）・東京都福祉保健局「ヘルプマーク（企業・事業者向け）webサイト」

The spread of help marks in Japan (including the distribution offices of local governments), Tokyo Metropolitan Health and Welfare Bureau “the Website of the Help Mark (for companies and businesses) "

What should be done when meeting a people with this Help Mark? 

The responding action may vary in case by case. It is always be suggested to give approprate assistance to the people with the Help Mark if possible.  

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Belows are some examples stated on the website of Tokyo Metropolitian Health and Welfare Bureau:

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  • If you see the person with the Help Mark inside the train or bus (public transport):  Please give a seat

Even if it is seemed like a healthy person in the appearance, it may be easy to get tired for the disabled person to stay in the same posture (such as standng and holding the handrail thoughout the whole journey). Moreover, it may be stressful to sit on the priority seat, when the disability is hardly to be identified in the appearance. 

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  • If you see the person with the Help Mark in the stations or commercial facilities: Please give a hand when necessary

Those who are wearing the Help Mark may have difficulty in doing some action such as standing up, walking or going up / down the stair during accident. It would be helpful for giving a hand to those who are found difficult to quick respond to the accidents.

​

  • If you see the person with the Help Mark at the time of a disaster: Please guide them to the shelter or safety area for evacuation if possible

It may be difficult for the visually impaired or hearing-impaired persons to get information of the disaster. Persons with physically disability may also difficult to evacuate quickly without assistance. 

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Sourse：Tokyo Metropolitan Health and Welfare Bureau “the Website of the Help Mark (for companies and businesses) 

 

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