Man, 19, Arrested for Allegedly Killing Girl near Tokyo
The man is suspected of killing the girl, including by choking her, at a vacant site in Sagamihara around 9:50 p.m. Wednesday, according to the police.
Latest Posts
JR East to Shift from Magnetic to QR Code Tickets in 2027 [Podcast Episode]
East Japan Railway Co., or JR East, said on Tuesday 9th June that it will discontinue magnetic short-distance tickets sold at all stations on its conventional lines and replace them with QR code tickets in spring 2027. While the current tickets are inserted into fare gates, the new tickets will require passengers to read QR codes on them at readers at the gates.
Kumamoto City Investigates Disability Allowance Re-certification Procedures After “bedridden” Resident Had Welfare Payments Stopped
According to the Kumamoto Ombudsman, the recipient was bedridden and unable to visit a medical institution for an examination, yet the city suspended the allowance on the grounds that the required medical certificate had not been submitted. The Ombudsman pointed out that the recipient’s relatives had consulted the city about alternative means of completing the procedure, but the city had not accepted those requests.
JR East to Shift from Magnetic to QR Code Tickets in 2027
East Japan Railway Co., or JR East, said on Tuesday 9th June that it will discontinue magnetic short-distance tickets sold at all stations on its conventional lines and replace them with QR code tickets in spring 2027. While the current tickets are inserted into fare gates, the new tickets will require passengers to read QR codes on them at readers at the gates.
8 Billion Yen in Fraudulent Disability Welfare Claims; 936 Administrative Sanctions Issued from FY2020–2024 [Podcast Episode]
Fraudulent claims for public disability welfare payments by operators providing services to support the daily lives and employment of people with disabilities totalled approximately ¥8 billion nationwide over the five years from fiscal 2020 to fiscal 2024, it was revealed on the 6th. The figure was obtained by Kyodo News through an information disclosure request for data held by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. During the same five-year period, 936 cases of administrative sanctions were imposed in connection with fraudulent claims and related misconduct.
Summer Special Olympics Showcase an Inclusive Society in Tokyo as National Games for Athletes with Intellectual Disabilities Open [Podcast Episode]
The opening ceremony for the 9th Special Olympics Japan Summer National Games, which brings together athletes with intellectual disabilities, was held on the 5th at Toyota Arena Tokyo in Koto Ward, Tokyo. About 1,200 athletes from all 47 prefectures are taking part, supported by a cumulative total of approximately 3,300 volunteers. The sporting event, which aims to embody an inclusive society where people live together regardless of disability, officially got underway.
8 Billion Yen in Fraudulent Disability Welfare Claims; 936 Administrative Sanctions Issued from FY2020–2024
Fraudulent claims for public disability welfare payments by operators providing services to support the daily lives and employment of people with disabilities totaled approximately ¥8 billion nationwide over the five years from fiscal 2020 to fiscal 2024, it was revealed on the 6th. The figure was obtained by Kyodo News through an information disclosure request for data held by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. During the same five-year period, 936 cases of administrative sanctions were imposed in connection with fraudulent claims and related misconduct.
Summer Special Olympics Showcase an Inclusive Society in Tokyo as National Games for Athletes with Intellectual Disabilities Open
The opening ceremony for the 9th Special Olympics Japan Summer National Games, which brings together athletes with intellectual disabilities, was held on the 5th at Toyota Arena Tokyo in Koto Ward, Tokyo. About 1,200 athletes from all 47 prefectures are taking part, supported by a cumulative total of approximately 3,300 volunteers. The sporting event, which aims to embody an inclusive society where people live together regardless of disability, officially got underway.
Missing American student found dead in Japan after dayslong search
The weeklong quest to find James “Weston” Higginbotham has yielded no signs of the 20-year-old, CNN has reported. Now, with the permission of Japanese police, the student’s family has made a public plea for any experienced hikers to aid in the search through treacherous terrain. That search will begin Saturday.
Japan Court Recognizes AI-Created Naked Girl Images as Child Porn
A Japanese court has sentenced a former elementary school teacher to three years and six months in prison for possessing naked images of girls created by generative artificial intelligence, among other acts, in violation of the law against child prostitution and pornography.
Former Tokyo Facility Worker Re-Arrested for Third Time for Assaulting Child with Disability During Transit
The girl was a user of the after-school/day support facility for children with disabilities where the suspect was employed, and he had been transporting her by car. Goto had already been arrested twice before and indicted on charges including non-consensual obscene acts for allegedly committing similar acts against two other young girls who attended the same facility.
Will there be fewer doctors treating developmental disorders in children? Medical field alarmed by reimbursement revision
Confusion and concern are spreading among families of children with developmental disabilities and medical professionals over the revision to Japan’s medical fee schedule that took effect on June 1.
Tropical Storm ‘Jangmi’ set to lash wide area of Japan [Podcast Episode]
Tropical Storm ‘Jangmi’, known in Japan as typhoon No. 6, is expected to bring heavy rain and strong winds across a swath of the country from Tuesday to Wednesday. The storm is forecast to come closest to Okinawa on Monday night and to the Amami region by Tuesday morning, before moving northeast and approaching the Kyushu, Shikoku, Kinki, Tokai and Kanto-Koshin regions through Wednesday, according to the Meteorological Agency.
Two Hokkaido Disability Support Facility Workers Arrested; Three Other Staff Members Voluntarily Questioned [Podcast Episode]
Two male employees accused of assaulting residents at a disability support facility in Kushiro, Hokkaido were arrested, it has emerged that several other staff members have also been voluntarily questioned by police.
Kawasaki City to File Criminal Complaint Over ¥550 Million Fraud at Disability Child Support Facility
A provider of after-school day services for children with disabilities designated by Kawasaki City has failed to repay more than ¥548 million in fraudulently obtained funds and related charges, and the city has announced its intention to file a criminal complaint. Mutsumi Tanno, director of Kawasaki City’s Disability Health and Welfare Department, said:
“The misconduct is extremely malicious. We regard this as a very serious incident. We intend to take the appropriate measures.”
(Update) Typhoon 6 ‘Jangmi’ Moves Towards Okinawa [Podcast Episode]
According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, as of 9 a.m. on Saturday, Jangmi was moving northwest over the waters east of the Philippines at a speed of 15 kph. The central pressure is 992 hectopascals, and the maximum wind speed near the centre is 23 meters per second.
Two Hokkaido Disability Support Facility Workers Arrested; Three Other Staff Members Voluntarily Questioned
Two male employees accused of assaulting residents at a disability support facility in Kushiro, Hokkaido were arrested, it has emerged that several other staff members have also been voluntarily questioned by police.
Japan Health Ministry to Aid Organ Transplant Hospitals
The Japanese health ministry is set to begin providing about 470 million yen in aid this fiscal year to medical institutions that conduct a large number of organ transplants from brain-dead patients.
Typhoon 6 ‘Jangmi’ Moves Towards Okinawa [Podcast Episode]
Typhoon Jangmi, also known as Typhoon No. 6, will reach the south of Okinawa Prefecture by 9 a.m. on Monday, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency. It is expected to reach the waters off Shikoku by 9 a.m. on Wednesday.
Osaka’s Yao City revokes designation of Type A disability employment support provider over ¥400 million in fraudulent claims
The city of Yao in Osaka Prefecture said on May 27 it revoked, effective the same day, the business designation of the Type A continuous employment support provider “Taylor’s Guild” in the city for fraudulently receiving about ¥440 million in additional subsidies and other payments intended for disability employment support services. The fraudulent claims were made across 28 municipalities in Osaka and Nara prefectures, including Yao. The total amount sought for repayment, including penalties imposed for the violations, is expected to reach about ¥614 million.
Japan’s Disability Pension Review Questioned; Staff Say “No One Will Tell the Truth in Internal Probe” [Podcast Episode]
An internal document acknowledged the risk that reviews could be repeated until staff were satisfied, suggesting potential arbitrariness, but the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare concluded it could not confirm such behaviour and attributed most cases to errors or scheduling constraints under a strict three-month processing deadline. However, some staff remain skeptical of the ministry’s findings, arguing that internal investigations cannot uncover the truth and that reassessments were sometimes influenced by expectations about how particular doctors would rule, raising concerns about transparency and fairness in the system.
Resident at Kochi disability facility died after being made to eat naked and unattended
On the 27th, Kochi Prefecture announced an administrative punishment against “Residence Wakafuji,” a disability support facility in Shimanto City, Kochi Prefecture, after abuse was found in which a resident was made to eat while naked in a shower room and then left unattended for a prolonged period, leading to the person’s death. The facility will be barred from accepting new residents for three months beginning June 1.
Japan’s Disability Pension Review Questioned; Staff Say “No One Will Tell the Truth in Internal Probe’”
A controversy has emerged over Japan’s disability pension system after reports that staff at the Japan Pension Service had, in some cases, secretly discarded doctors’ assessment results and asked other doctors to re-evaluate applications. An internal document acknowledged the risk that reviews could be repeated until staff were satisfied, suggesting potential arbitrariness, but the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare concluded it could not confirm such behavior and attributed most cases to errors or scheduling constraints under a strict three-month processing deadline. However, some staff remain skeptical of the ministry’s findings, arguing that internal investigations cannot uncover the truth and that reassessments were sometimes influenced by expectations about how particular doctors would rule, raising concerns about transparency and fairness in the system
Sagamihara City staff attend disability awareness training course [Podcast Episode]
During the roughly 45-minute session, the employees watched videos created in collaboration with organizations for people with disabilities to learn about the specific challenges faced by individuals with visual, hearing, and other impairments. In group workshops, they discussed what kind of assistance they could provide in daily life.
Sagamihara City staff attend disability awareness training course
During the roughly 45-minute session, the employees watched videos created in collaboration with organizations for people with disabilities to learn about the specific challenges faced by individuals with visual, hearing, and other impairments. In group workshops, they discussed what kind of assistance they could provide in daily life.
Kissei Ordered to Warn over Vasculitis Drug after Fatalities [Podcast Episode]
The drug is estimated to have been administered to 12,000 to 13,000 patients in Japan. All 20 dead patients developed liver dysfunction, and 210 similar side effect reports have been made, including suspected cases.
Half of elderly women in Japan prefer AI over humans for personal advice
According to the Japan Institute for Promotion of Digital Economy and Community survey, conducted online in mid-January, when asked whether they would prefer to consult a human or AI about relationship issues, 47.8 percent of female respondents in their 60s and 70s chose AI, which is more than the 37.3 percent who preferred humans.
USJ Introduces Japan’s First Theme Park “Navigation Device” to Guide Visually Impaired Guests via Vibrations
Universal Studios Japan has become the first theme park in the country to begin renting out navigation devices that guide visually impaired guests through vibrations. The device, which attaches to the shoe and was introduced on the 22nd, allows users to set their destination via a dedicated app. It then alerts them of the correct direction and when to turn using vibrations. Because the guidance does not rely on audio, users can navigate the park while fully enjoying its atmosphere.
Kissei Ordered to Warn over Vasculitis Drug after Fatalities
The drug is estimated to have been administered to 12,000 to 13,000 patients in Japan. All 20 dead patients developed liver dysfunction, and 210 similar side effect reports have been made, including suspected cases.
Japan’s Ministry of Finance calls for spending curbs on welfare services for people with disabilities [Podcast Episode]
At the Fiscal System Subcommittee of the Fiscal System Council held on April 28, discussions were also held on the field of disability welfare. The Ministry of Finance stated that the total cost of disability welfare services, combining public expenditures and user co-payments, had reached 4.2 trillion yen as of fiscal year 2024, roughly doubling over the past decade, and expressed the view that it is necessary to curb further cost increases.
Barriers for people with disabilities persist in Japan’s Universities despite reforms
Structural barriers and entrenched biases continue to limit opportunities for students with disabilities in Japan’s university system, even as legal frameworks and support measures have expanded in recent years, experts say.
As costs double over 10 years, Japan’s Ministry of Finance calls for spending curbs on welfare services for disabled
At the Fiscal System Subcommittee of the Fiscal System Council held on April 28, discussions were also held on the field of disability welfare. The Ministry of Finance stated that the total cost of disability welfare services, combining public expenditures and user co-payments, had reached 4.2 trillion yen as of fiscal year 2024, roughly doubling over the past decade, and expressed the view that it is necessary to curb further cost increases.
Ibaraki Prefecture Announces Revocation of Welfare Facility’s License Over 7 Million Yen Fraudulent Benefit Claims [Podcast Episode]
The fraudulent claims amounted to approximately 7 million yen in total, disbursed across 17 municipalities in four prefectures: Ibaraki, Chiba, Saitama, and Tokyo. The respective local governments will demand the return of approximately 9.8 million yen, which includes surcharge penalties. This marks the fifth time since July 2025 that Ibaraki prefecture has revoked a facility’s designation due to fraudulent benefit claims and document forgery.
Ibaraki Prefecture Announces Revocation of Welfare Facility’s License Over 7 Million Yen Fraudulent Benefit Claims
The fraudulent claims amounted to approximately 7 million yen in total, disbursed across 17 municipalities in four prefectures: Ibaraki, Chiba, Saitama, and Tokyo. The respective local governments will demand the return of approximately 9.8 million yen, which includes surcharge penalties. This marks the fifth time since July 2025 that Ibaraki prefecture has revoked a facility’s designation due to fraudulent benefit claims and document forgery.
Japanese Disability Advocate Hirotada Ototake Questions Ranking Disabilities by Hierarchy in Social Media [Podcast Episode]
Hirotada Ototake, who was born with a congenital condition resulting in the absence of limbs (“tetra-amelia”), quoted a post by a user who argued that support for people with mental disabilities should be prioritized over that for those with physical disabilities. He commented, “These kinds of ‘misery comparisons’ or ‘pulling each other down’ are not only meaningless, but actually counterproductive.”
Kissei Pharmaceutical advises “refrain from use” after 20 deaths after using vasculitis drug
Kissei Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. announced that for its vasculitis treatment drug “Tavneos” (generic name: avacopan), 20 deaths have been reported in Japan among patients who took the medication. This figure includes cases where a causal relationship is unclear. On the 15th, the company called on healthcare professionals to refrain from administering the drug to new patients.
Japanese Disability Advocate Hirotada Ototake Questions Ranking Disabilities by Hierarchy in Social Media
Ototake, who was born with a congenital condition resulting in the absence of limbs (“tetra-amelia”), quoted a post by a user who argued that support for people with mental disabilities should be prioritized over that for those with physical disabilities. He commented, “These kinds of ‘misery comparisons’ or ‘pulling each other down’ are not only meaningless, but actually counterproductive.”
Saitama disability child day-care support service representative arrested over suspected fraud
According to police, from June 2020 to April two years ago, the suspect allegedly falsified attendance records on 45 occasions for two child users at a facility he operated in Higashimatsuyama City, and is suspected of defrauding the city of about 8.81 million yen, including disability child day-care benefits.
Instructor Arrested for Indecent Acts Against Woman with Developmental Disability Told Her They Were “going to practice making a baby” [Podcast Episode]
A former instructor at a support organization arrested on suspicion of committing indecent acts against a woman with a developmental disability during a class told her they were “going to practice making a baby”.
Tokyo Mother Admits to Remodelling Closet to Confine Disabled Teenage Daughter
In a case where two parents and an older brother were arrested on suspicion of unlawful confinement resulting in injury for restraining a disabled girl in a closet, it has been revealed through interviews with investigators that the mother admitted to remodeling the closet to create a confinement space around September of last year. The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) believes that the confinement became a routine occurrence from that point onward.
Instructor Arrested for Indecent Acts Against Woman with Developmental Disability Told Her They Were “going to practice making a baby”
A former instructor at a support organization arrested on suspicion of committing indecent acts against a woman with a developmental disability during a class told her they were “going to practice making a baby”.
Naha-based Disability Employment Agency Scandal: Company Received Fee of 200,000 Yen Per Hire [Podcast Episode]
The people either worked at the welfare offices or from home, and Thankslab received a support fee of about ¥200,000 per person per month from client companies.
Former Instructor Arrested For Indecent Acts Against Woman with Developmental Disability: “I did it to satisfy my sexual desires”
A former instructor at a support organization has been arrested on suspicion of committing indecent acts against a woman with a developmental disability during a class. He partially denies the allegations, but reportedly said, “I did it to satisfy my sexual desires.”
Japan Sees No Immediate Impact from Hantavirus
Quarantine authorities are confirming whether travelers arriving in Japan from South America who report health problems had contact with rodents, which transmit the virus, and recommending that they visit medical institutions when necessary, Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara said on Monday 11th May.
Passengers Taken to Hospital After Spraying Incident on JR East Train
About 10 passengers were taken to hospital after an emergency report of something being sprayed in a train car on the Tokaido Line section of the Ueno-Tokyo Line of East Japan Railway Co. at about 4:35 p.m. on Sunday 10th May.
Okinawa Company Denies Hiring People with Disabilities and Prohibiting Contact with Employer [Podcast Episode]
Employees with disabilities were referred to as “talents,” and “connections between talents via chat tools, social media, etc., are prohibited,” forbidding contact with other employees with disabilities, such as colleagues. The reason given for this was that it would “lead to trouble.”
Okinawa Company Denies Hiring People with Disabilities and Prohibiting Contact with Employer
Employees with disabilities were referred to as “talents,” and “connections between talents via chat tools, social media, etc., are prohibited,” forbidding contact with other employees with disabilities, such as colleagues. The reason given for this was that it would “lead to trouble.”
Risk of Hantavirus Spread in Japan Low: Health Ministry
The risk of hantavirus spreading in Japan through person-to-person transmission is low, even if infected passengers from a cruise ship linked to a recent outbreak enter the country, the health ministry said Wednesday. The ministry called on the public to remain calm, after three people died in a suspected hantavirus outbreak on the cruise ship in the Atlantic Ocean. A Japanese national is among passengers on the ship.
Disabled workers in Japan left “with no work assigned and abandoned”, companies outsource employment management to contractors
It has been learned that there have been repeated cases in which disabled people directly employed by companies through intermediaries operating disability employment businesses were given virtually no actual work while working remotely, and were effectively left abandoned, doing little more than exchanging simple chat messages with the intermediary company. The cases reveal a structure in which companies seeking to meet the legally mandated employment quota for disabled workers (currently 2.5% of employees) hired disabled people only in form while paying salaries, then completely outsourced employment management to outside contractors.
Japan’s Labour Ministry Suspects Abuse of Remote Work Systems for People with Disabilities as Use Triples [Podcast Episode]
According to Health, Labour, and Welfare Ministry data released on the 4th, the number of vocational training centres for the disabled where “more than half of users work from home” has surged 3.2 times over the four-year period ending in 2025. Because remote support reduces overhead costs, such as personnel expenses for on-site staff, the Ministry suspects that some profit-driven operators are abusing the system. Consequently, the Ministry issued a notice to local governments nationwide this April, calling for stricter oversight.
Barrier Free Japan 