Disability News Japan

“Kizuna Holdings hasn’t suffered any damage, but we are the ones struggling. They are the embodiment of insincerity…When I look for new work, I’m often asked, ‘Where did you work before?’ When I tell them it was a Kizuna Holdings facility, they say, ‘Oh, there. That means you were complicit in the crime. You’re an accomplice,’ and then tell me not to come back. But the one truly in the wrong is Ki...

Two strong earthquakes jolted Nagano Prefecture in central Japan on Saturday 18th April, with the first measuring a preliminary magnitude of 5.0 followed by another registering magnitude 5.1, the country's weather agency said. The Japan Meteorological Agency warned of aftershocks on a similar scale over the next week or so. No tsunami warnings were issued. The first major quake occurred at 1:20 p....

Japan’s health ministry decided on Wednesday to lift restrictions on organ donations from individuals who have stayed in Europe, a measure introduced to combat variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD). The change is expected to take effect as early as this autumn. Episode notes: ‘Japan to Lift Organ Donation Curbs on Europe Stayers’: https://barrierfreejapan.com/2026/04/16/japan-to-lift-organ-dona...

A Japanese government survey in 2025 published on Tuesday 14th April showed that 4.5 pct of respondents in the country often or constantly feel lonely, up 0.2 percentage point from the previous year. The share of people who often or constantly feel lonely was higher in their 30s to 50s. The survey, conducted by the Cabinet Office in December, found that 13.7 pct said they sometimes feel lonely and...

Tokyo police have arrested a former worker of a facility for children with disabilities in Chiba Prefecture, east of Tokyo, for an alleged indecent assault against a 5-year-old girl who attended the facility, it was learned Monday. * Apparently 'Indecent Assault' and 'Abuse' are different types of crimes. Episode notes: ‘Tokyo Police Arrest Ex-Child Facility Worker for Indecent Assault Against 5-Y...

Masamichi Sone, the representative of a company operating facilities such as “Rapport” in Nishi Ward, Sapporo, has been arrested and referred to prosecutors. Sone is suspected of repeatedly submitting false applications to Sapporo City between 2022 and 2025, claiming to have provided employment support services for persons with disabilities despite not having appointed a qualified managing supervi...

Tokyo’s Toshima Ward announced on the 10th that it has revoked the designation of the childcare support service “Aton Juku – Child Development Support and After-School Day Service for Children Living with Sign Language,” after it was found to have fraudulently received approximately 58.3 million yen in benefits by concealing a staff shortage. The revocation will take effect from July 1. Episode no...

When an advocacy group for people with mental and developmental disabilities conducted a survey on employment, over 60% of respondents reported having experience with "closed employment" - working without disclosing their disability. Many cited the reason for non-disclosure as "feeling that it would lead to employment disadvantages such as dismissal or contract non-renewal.” Episode notes: ‘60% of...

Novel Alzheimer's therapies have been given to 19 pct of outpatients who applied for the medications, according to a recent survey at a Tokyo hospital. The lecanemab and donanemab therapies for early-stage Alzheimer's patients are now clinically available under Japan's national health insurance scheme, which curbs a sharp rise in out-of-pocket medical expenses. Despite the relatively low-cost avai...

Amid support programs for the employment of people with disabilities, an unprecedented case of fraudulent benefit claims by an Osaka-based company has come to light. The total amounts to ¥15 billion, funded, of course, by taxpayers. Episode notes: ‘Disabled Service Users at Employment Facility Exploiting Benefit Loopholes “felt something like guilt”’: https://barrierfreejapan.com/2026/04/04/disabl...

A recent analysis of a government report showed that nearly 500 people aged 65 and older died between fiscal 2006 and 2024 as a result of murder or abuse by family members or relatives who had been caring for them, highlighting the increasingly harsh environment surrounding in-home caregiving. Episode notes: ‘Nearly 500 elderly killed by family caregivers in Japan in FY 2006-2024’: https://barrier...

Japanese health minister Kenichiro Ueno on Friday 3rd April urged the public to exercise caution as measles cases are increasing. The number of people infected with the disease in Japan this year had reached 152 as of March 22, the highest total for the same period since 2020. Episode notes: ‘Japan Health Minister Warns about Rising Measles Cases': https://barrierfreejapan.com/2026/04/04/japan-hea...

A survey of families of people with disabilities has revealed that nearly 60% responded that they feel they have reached their limit with caregiving (care/assistance). It was also found that about 90% said they are worried about the lives of people with disabilities after their parents have passed away. 'Survey Reveals 60% of Families of People with Disabilities in Japan Feel They are at Care “Lim...

“We’d like you to resign.” Hearing those words, Yamakawa (a pseudonym) was shocked. They never expected such a drastic change in their employer’s attitude. The incident that came to mind had happened just four days earlier. Yamakawa had revealed to the head of the company, where they had been working for three years, that they had ASD. Episode notes: ‘ “We’d like you to resign”: Worker in Japan fi...

An earthquake struck eastern Japan on the morning of April 1st, with the Japan Meteorological Agency reporting a magnitude of 5.0. The quake occurred at around 10:06 a.m. Strong shaking was observed across parts of Tochigi Prefecture and neighboring areas in the Kanto region, including zones registering intensity 4. There were no immediate reports of major damage or injuries, but authorities are c...

According to the announcement, as of June 1, 2024, three municipalities, Kinokawa, Shirahama, and Kushimoto, did not meet the statutory employment rate of 2.8% for persons with disabilities under the Act on Employment Promotion of Persons with Disabilities. As a result, they formulated employment plans for hiring persons with disabilities as required by the law. However, despite guidance from the...

Osaka City said March 27 it had revoked the operating licenses of four disability employment support facilities run by subsidiaries of Kizuna Holdings, after determining they had improperly received excessive public subsidies tied to employment outcomes for people with disabilities. Kizuna Holdings operates Type A continuous employment support facilities, where users with disabilities work in stru...

According to the report for 2025 compiled jointly by the health ministry and the National Police Agency, the total suicide figure dropped 1,132 from the previous year to 19,188, the lowest since 1978, when the statistics began. Episode notes: ‘Japan Sees Fewest-Ever Suicides in 2025': https://barrierfreejapan.com/2026/03/28/japan-sees-fewest-ever-suicides-in-2025/

The number of students diagnosed with developmental disabilities in Japan is increasing. A key issue is how schools provide support. This report looks at both students struggling with disabilities and efforts by universities. Episode notes: ‘Students with Developmental Disabilities Rise to 12,000 Nationwide in Japan': https://barrierfreejapan.com/2026/03/27/students-with-developmental-disabilities...

Miyazaki City has revoked the designation of service provider ‘Porto’ that supports preschool children with disabilities after it was found to have fraudulently received approximately 14 million yen in benefits from the city. Episode notes: ‘Miyazaki City Day Care Centre for Disabled Children Improperly Claimed 14 Million Yen, Designation Revoked’: https://barrierfreejapan.com/2026/03/26/miyazaki-...

In an accident in March 2025 at the “Prefectural Comprehensive Rehabilitation Center,” a residential facility for children with disabilities in Yonago City, Tottori Prefecture, a resident (then 14) fell from a stretcher, suffered fractures, and later died. On the 23rd, the prefectural government released the results of its investigation. As to causes, it pointed to failures to thoroughly ensure sa...

An estimated 227,000 people in Japan are living with higher brain dysfunction, an “invisible disability” caused by brain damage from strokes or accidents, yet the condition remains poorly understood because its symptoms are not outwardly apparent. As a result, families of those affected often face profound and isolating challenges, including sudden personality changes, emotional instability, and c...

People with disabilities in Japan continue to face significant barriers in securing housing and accommodation, with multiple recent cases highlighting concerns over discrimination, limited legal enforcement, and a lack of understanding among property owners and service providers. Episode notes: ‘People with disabilities in Japan face persistent barriers to housing, accommodation': https://barrierf...

Japan’s transport ministry has come up with draft guidelines aimed at reducing long waiting lines at women’s toilets at stations and commercial facilities. At a meeting of experts and businesspeople on Friday 13th March, the ministry presented its first draft guidelines for public restrooms in such places. The guidelines say it is important for both men and women to be able to use restrooms comfor...

I thought ‘Alone in Japan: A Journey to the Future’ by Tom Feiling was interesting and engaging. I recommend the audiobook. ‘Alone in Japan: A Journey to the Future’ (Amazon JP): https://amzn.asia/d/0a0h4eQN