The ministry announced the decision at a subcommittee meeting of the Labor Policy Council held on Nov. 11. Businesses expressed reservations over the proposed expansion, citing the additional costs and responsibilities involved in establishing the necessary arrangements to accommodate workers with disabilities.
According to the complaint and other documents, the man has worked at the school since 2018. In 2021, he was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), among other conditions. He explained to the school that, because of the characteristics of his disabilities, he had difficulty understanding the meaning of conversations and required certain accommodations.
The city government of Yatsushiro, Kumamoto Prefecture, on Monday certified a woman who died following a major earthquake that struck the southwestern Japan prefecture in July as a disaster-related death, the first such recognition linked to the tremblor. The woman, who was a Yatsushiro resident in her 90s, suffered from a subdural hematoma due to a fall during the earthquake, according to the city government. She later died after experiencing a decline in physical function because of impaired consciousness.
When Satoshi Kasai entered a sanatorium for Hansen’s disease, he changed his surname to shield his family from discrimination. But he kept his given name, fearing he would otherwise lose his connection to his past. More than six decades later, the 82-year-old is sharing his experiences with visitors to a museum in eastern Japan, hoping to raise awareness of the prejudice faced by people affected by the disease.
Regarding an abuse incident in January at “Residence Wakafuji,” a facility for supporting people with disabilities in Shimanto City, Kochi Prefecture, where a resident was left unattended and subsequently died after being made to eat while naked in a shower room, the operating social welfare corporation submitted a third-party verification committee report to the prefecture on November 4. The report pointed out that the facility was being operated without clearly assigning staff in charge of supervision and support.
A 38-year-old male teacher at Chiba Sodegaura Prefectural Special Needs School in Midori Ward, Chiba, has filed a lawsuit against Chiba Prefecture, seeking ¥5 million in damages. He alleges that inappropriate treatment, including workplace harassment by school administrators over his developmental disabilities, left him suffering from depression and unable to work. According to the complaint and other documents, the man has worked at the school since 2018. In 2021, he was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), among other conditions. He explained to the school that, because of the characteristics of his disabilities, he had difficulty understanding the meaning of conversations and required certain accommodations.
Regarding an abuse incident in January at “Residence Wakafuji,” a facility for supporting people with disabilities in Shimanto City, Kochi Prefecture, where a resident was left unattended and subsequently died after being made to eat while naked in a shower room, the operating social welfare corporation submitted a third-party verification committee report to the prefecture on November 4. The report pointed out that the facility was being operated without clearly assigning staff in charge of supervision and support.
Myuji, 45, whose full name is Kuwana Myuji, said in a recent Instagram post that he decided to enter the facility after being approached by someone operating a group home in Osaka who offered assistance.
16-year-old Runa (pseudonym), who was arrested and detained on suspicion of abusing a user at a facility for persons with disabilities in Hyogo Prefecture. Following her release, Runa suffered from a persistent eating disorder and subsequently passed away. On October 21, the first oral argument session was held in a state redress lawsuit filed by her surviving family against the national and prefectural governments. At the Kobe District Court, Runa’s mother began her statement of opinion.
The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare presented a draft policy at an expert panel meeting on Nov. 4 to strengthen support systems for people with “severe behavioral disorders,” including self-injurious behavior and property destruction. The plan would expand reimbursement for disability welfare service providers that accept such individuals, making it easier for them to utilize specialists with advanced expertise. Details will be finalized by the end of the year, with the measures to be reflected in the fiscal 2027 revision of disability welfare service fees.
Ryoshin Takagi, who was the last surviving plaintiff in the landmark “itai-itai” disease lawsuit against a major Japanese company, has died, his family said Tuesday. He was 96. A Toyama native, he lost both his grandmother and mother to the disease, which was caused by cadmium poisoning. The illness was one of four major pollution diseases that emerged in the era of Japan’s postwar high economic growth, which also included Minamata disease.
16-year-old Runa (pseudonym), who was arrested and detained on suspicion of abusing a user at a facility for persons with disabilities in Hyogo Prefecture. Following her release, Runa suffered from a persistent eating disorder and subsequently passed away. On October 21, the first oral argument session was held in a state redress lawsuit filed by her surviving family against the national and prefectural governments. At the Kobe District Court, Runa’s mother began her statement of opinion.
A 53-year-old company employee was sentenced to three years and six months in prison on Oct. 30 by the Saitama District Court for causing the death of her younger sister, who had a mental disorder and lived with her, through assault. In explaining the reasons for the ruling, Judge Koike described the circumstances leading up to the incident. The defendant began living with her younger sister around October 2021 after their mother moved away in what appeared to be an effort to avoid the younger sister. The judge also said the defendant had accumulated considerable stress from caring for her sister and managing her daily life. He also noted that she had continued pursuing procedures to secure a place for her sister in a group home rather than abandoning her, saying there were “grounds for sympathy.”
Over three months after the 2026 Kumamoto earthquake, which struck on 28 July 2026 at approximately 16:27 registered a maximum seismic intensity of 7 on Japan’s seven-point scale and 7.1M, people with visual impairments in the hardest-hit areas of the prefecture continue to face challenges in evacuation and recovery.
The head of Japan’s new National Disaster Management Agency, which was launched Monday, urged people to stockpile food and secure furniture as part of efforts to strengthen disaster preparations in normal times. At a press conference, Goshi Hosono, who became the first chief of the agency, noted that there are limits to what the central and local governments can do in the event of a massive disaster. “I hope that you all take proper action,” he said. Speaking at an inauguration ceremony, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi instructed ministries and agencies to break down bureaucratic silos so that the new agency can function as a “strong control tower.”
“Protecting the lives and livelihoods of the people is one of the nation’s most important responsibilities,” she said.
A 53-year-old company employee was sentenced to three years and six months in prison on Oct. 30 by the Saitama District Court for causing the death of her younger sister, who had a mental disorder and lived with her, through assault. In explaining the reasons for the ruling, Judge Koike described the circumstances leading up to the incident. The defendant began living with her younger sister around October 2021 after their mother moved away in what appeared to be an effort to avoid the younger sister. The judge also said the defendant had accumulated considerable stress from caring for her sister and managing her daily life. He also noted that she had continued pursuing procedures to secure a place for her sister in a group home rather than abandoning her, saying there were “grounds for sympathy.”
Teacher shortages at special needs schools in Japan have nearly tripled in four years, driven by a growing number of children with developmental disabilities, a government survey showed with 589 teaching positions remained unfilled at special needs schools nationwide as of May last year, with the shortage rate reaching 0.71% of authorized staffing levels.
Japan’s Health Ministry on Friday proposed reducing welfare payments to operators of large disability group homes for people with disabilities, as part of efforts to discourage the expansion of large facilities and promote more community-based living arrangements.
According to the report, former employees of ‘Megumi’, a Japanese operator of group homes for people with disabilities have alleged that a facility director repeatedly assaulted and verbally abused residents in a space known as a “punishment room,” according to an investigative report published Monday that said that a Megumi day-care facility home in Kasugai, Aichi Prefecture had a space adjacent to the facility referred to as an “otoshioki-beya,” or “punishment room”, where a female facility director frequently assaulted and verbally abused service users.
The number of people reporting mental disorders caused by workplace relationships and other circumstances is increasing. In fiscal 2025, the number of workers’ compensation claims relating to mental disorders received by the Hyogo Labour Bureau reached 222, a record high.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said on Wednesday 14th October that the government would review fees for disability welfare services to ensure that providers offering high-quality support receive adequate resources, while addressing rising prices and wages. Speaking at a House of Representatives Budget Committee meeting in response to a question from Satoshi Umemura, policy chief of the Japan Innovation Party, Takaichi said revisions to the fee system for fiscal 2027 were essential to appropriately evaluate service quality and establish a structure that rewards good performance.
Visiting Italian Minister for Disabilities Alessandra Locatelli has called on the Group of Seven major democracies to prioritize addressing problems that people with disabilities face in emergencies such as natural disasters and armed conflicts. In an interview in Tokyo on Tuesday, Locatelli also said that the G7 should promote the use of new technologies such as artificial intelligence to achieve this aim.
A Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) policy panel on disability issues held a hearing on the upcoming revision of disability welfare service fees, scheduled for April next year, on the 19th, listening to 16 organizations concerned with the sector. Eight organizations, including the Japanese Association on Intellectual Disability Welfare, the National Council of Social Welfare Corporation Management and the National Council of Child Development Support, called for an increase in basic reimbursement rates to ensure stable business operations and close the wage gap with other industries, citing survey findings that 55% of service providers were operating at a loss.
Japan won a record 64 gold medals at the Asian Para Games, which concluded Saturday after bringing together around 3,000 athletes from 45 countries and regions, although concerns were raised over accessibility for disabled volunteers.
At a staff training meeting, Megumi executives instructed participants to make sure they used the following phrase when promoting the homes to prospective clients: “We’ll look after them until the very end!” This atmosphere feels a bit like a pyramid scheme, an employee thought.
Japan won a record 64 gold medals at the Asian Para Games, which concluded Saturday after bringing together around 3,000 athletes from 45 countries and regions, although concerns were raised over accessibility for disabled volunteers.
According to the report, former employees Former employees of Megumi, a Japanese operator of group homes for people with disabilities, have alleged that a facility director repeatedly assaulted and verbally abused residents in a space known as a “punishment room,” according to an investigative report published Monday. said that a Megumi day-care facility home in Kasugai, Aichi Prefecture had a space adjacent to the facility referred to as an “otoshioki-beya,” or “punishment room”, where a female facility director frequently assaulted and verbally abused service users.
‘Runa’ – a pseudonym, whom was 16 at the time that she died, intervened when a female service user with a severe intellectual disability attempted to bite another person during an event at a disability welfare facility in Hyogo Prefecture. A person who witnessed the incident later reported it to a local government authority as possible abuse. Speaking after the hearing, Runa’s mother said she wanted the court proceedings to establish why her daughter had been deprived of her liberty and whether her life and dignity had been protected during detention. She said she was pursuing the case so that others would not have to endure similar suffering.
‘Runa’ – a pseudonym, whom was 16 at the time that she died , intervened when a female service user with a severe intellectual disability attempted to bite another person during an event at a disability welfare facility in Hyogo Prefecture. A person who witnessed the incident later reported it to a local government authority as possible abuse.
The city of Amagasaki announced Oct. 23 that it would revoke the licenses of two facilities operated by Lovely Care, a company based in the city’s Ohama-cho district, for improperly receiving about 51.9 million yen in public benefits without employing the staff required by law.
Large Typhoon Champi could approach the Kyushu region in southwestern Japan on Monday before becoming an extratropical cyclone and reaching waters off the coast of the Shikoku western region, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency. The agency is urging caution for possible heavy rain, partly due to a lingering weather front extending from eastern to western Japan.
Japanese wheelchair tennis star Tokito Oda secured his second consecutive Asian Para Games title in the men’s singles Friday, qualifying for the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympics. Oda defeated a Chinese opponent 6-2, 6-2 in the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Para Games final match in Nagoya, the capital of Aichi Prefecture, central Japan.
Two-time Paralympic gold medalist Daiki Kajiwara captured gold in the men’s singles WH2 badminton final at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Para Games on Friday, notching his 200th consecutive international victory. The 24-year-old Kajiwara beat South Korea’s Yu Soo Young 21-10, 18-21, 24-22 in Ichinomiya, Aichi Prefecture. Kajiwara played baseball before losing his right leg in a bicycle accident during his second year of junior high school. Sarina Satomi and Shino Kawai won the women’s singles WH1 and women’s singles SL3 gold, respectively. In para athletics, Yudai Shimazu, who previously competed in Japan’s prestigious university ekiden relay race, won the men’s 5,000-meter T12/T13 final.
A trial began on the 21st in which a mother is seeking damages from the Japanese government and Hyogo Prefecture, alleging that an illegal investigation led to the death of her 16-year-old daughter. Both defendants have indicated they intend to contest the claims in full.
Runa, who was 16 at the time, was seen dancing energetically in front of a camera. Just a few months later, however, she died in a drastically deteriorated condition.
There have been calls for the organizers of the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Para Games to improve accessibility for disabled volunteers, following criticism that insufficient consideration was given to those volunteering at the Asian Games.
Former world No. 1 Yui Kamiji missed out on gold in the wheelchair tennis women’s singles event at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Para Games on Thursday, but praised her Chinese rival who defeated her in the final and clinched a berth for the Los Angeles Paralympics. Kamiji, who completed a career Golden Slam this year, lost to third-ranked Li Xiaohui 6-1, 7-6(2) in Nagoya after pushing the second set to a tiebreak.
Japan has won 100 medals at the ongoing 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Para Games being held Aichi Prefecture, including 29 golds, to rank second in the overall standings behind China, as of Wednesday 21st October. Japan’s haul comprises 29 gold, 36 silver and 35 bronze medals, putting it ahead of third-placed Uzbekistan, which has won 89 medals, including 29 golds, as of the end of competition on Oct. 21.
Japan’s Kazuki Takahashi became emotional after winning bronze in the men’s individual BC3 boccia event at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Para Games on Wednesday, as the medal came at the venue where he suffered a life-changing injury about 30 years ago. Takahashi, a Paralympic silver medalist, beat South Korea’s Jeong Ho Wong 5-1 in the bronze medal match at Nagoya City General Gymnasium.
Wheelchair racer Tomoki Sato led a Japanese podium sweep in the men’s 100-meter T51/T52 final Wednesday at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Para Games before paying tribute to former teammate Hirokazu Ueyonabaru, who died last month after being injured in a road accident.
There have been calls for the organizers of the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Para Games to improve accessibility for disabled volunteers, following criticism that insufficient consideration was given to those volunteering at the Asian Games.
Nearly half of workers with developmental disabilities in Japan do not disclose their diagnosis to supervisors or human resources departments, with fear of discrimination and prejudice cited as the leading reason, a survey has found. Among respondents who received a diagnosis while employed, 37.6% said they had not told anyone, while 8.7% had informed colleagues but not their supervisors, bringing the total who withheld the information from management to 46.3%.
Local judoka Atsumi Nishimura expressed regret after settling for silver in the women’s J1 70-kilogram event at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Para Games on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Paris Paralympic champion Junko Hirose secured bronze in the women’s J2 60-kg category despite being injured. In Para judo, J1 is the category for athletes who are blind or almost blind, while J2 is for those with visual impairment. During bouts, J1 judokas are escorted by the referee to the center of the mat at the start of the contest and whenever necessary.
Japan’s Koyo Iwabuchi, 31, and Mahiro Funayama, 22, won table tennis golds in the men’s class 9 and class 10 singles events, respectively, at the Asian Para Games on Tuesday.
Princess Kako on Sunday called for greater understanding of hearing loss at a national welfare convention in Kyoto, expressing hope for a society where everyone can communicate with confidence. At the ceremony, the second daughter of Crown Prince Fumihito, also known as Crown Prince Akishino, said, “I hope everyone can access a wide range of information, communicate their thoughts to one another with peace of mind and live together.”
Six-time Paralympian swimmer Takayuki Suzuki was relieved after winning gold in the men’s 50-meter freestyle S4 final at the home Aichi-Nagoya Asian Para Games on Monday. Meanwhile, 14-year-old debutant Ryuga Yamada was satisfied after setting a personal best despite finishing seventh in the men’s 200m individual medley SM6 final.
Japan’s Shizuka Hangai, 38, and Shota Kawamoto, 30, on Monday clinched Asian Para Games gold in the women’s J1 class 52-kilogram judo event and in the men’s C1-2 class 3,000-meter individual cycling pursuit, respectively. A day after the opening ceremony was held for the quadrennial sporting festival mainly in the central Japan prefecture of Aichi, Hangai added the Asian Para gold to her medal haul after winning silver for the women’s 48 kg judo event at the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games, which was her fourth Paralympics.
The opening ceremony of the first Japan-hosted Asian Para Games took place at Paloma Mizuho Stadium in Nagoya, the capital of Aichi Prefecture, central Japan, on Sunday, officially marking the start of the 2026 Games. About 3,000 athletes from 45 countries and regions are scheduled to participate. The Japanese delegation has entered about 280 athletes. At the opening ceremony, Japanese Emperor Naruhito declared the opening of the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Para Games. The ceremony was also attended by Crown Prince Akishino, the honorary president of the Games, and Crown Princess Kiko.
Princess Kako on Sunday called for greater understanding of hearing loss at a national welfare convention in Kyoto, expressing hope for a society where everyone can communicate with confidence. At the ceremony, the second daughter of Crown Prince Fumihito, also known as Crown Prince Akishino, said, “I hope everyone can access a wide range of information, communicate their thoughts to one another with peace of mind and live together.”
Eligible small and medium-sized corporations operating nursing care or disability welfare service facilities can receive up to 2.3 million yen per employee for replacement staff costs during childcare or family care leave, depending on the employment period. Additional subsidies are also available for recruitment advertising and workplace improvements.
Sporting action began at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Para Games on Friday, two days before the opening ceremony, as Japan hosts the event for the first time. Japan were beaten 1-0 by China in blind football, while in men’s wheelchair basketball, the host nation defeated China 76-38. Table tennis and badminton also got underway in Aichi Prefecture in central Japan.
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