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.
The number of foreign residents in Japan as of the end of June rose 3.8 pct from the end of 2025 to a record 4,281,026, Justice Minister Takashi Yamashita said Friday. Foreign residents accounted for 3.5 pct of the country’s total population. In the first half of 2026, however, the number of foreigners entering Japan edged down 0.1 pct from a year earlier to 19,706,953.
Hyogo Prefecture announced on October 15 that the spread of influenza in the prefecture had reached the advisory level for the first time this season. The average number of patients per designated medical institution during the week of October 5–11 was 10.15, an increase of 2.61 from the previous week (September 28–October 4). The number exceeded the advisory threshold of 10 patients per designated institution approximately three weeks earlier than last season.
Former Hakone Ekiden stage winner Yudai Shimazu will run for gold at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Para Games after an eye disease prompted his move to para athletics. The 26-year-old, a two-time stage winner in Japan’s prestigious university relay race, holds the men’s T13 5,000-meter world record for athletes with visual impairments.
The 5th Asian Para Games will take place in Aichi Prefecture and Nagoya, Japan, from October 18 to October 24, 2026. This marks the first time Japan has hosted the event.
A cross-party parliamentary group in Japan began hearing from experts on Oct. 13 as it steps up efforts to revise the Developmental Disabilities Support Act for the first time since 2016, with the aim of submitting an amendment bill during the 2027 ordinary Diet session. The proposed revision is expected to address a range of issues, including the definition of developmental disabilities, the participation of people with disabilities in decisions affecting them, the promotion of reasonable accommodation, and improvements to the functions of support centers and the training of specialist personnel.
Japan’s Hiromi Endo arrives at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Para Games sitting second in the women’s boccia world rankings and looking to go one better than her runner-up finish at the recent world championships. Playing in the BC1 category for athletes with significant impairment of all four limbs and trunk, the 40-year-old emerged as Japan’s leading figure in boccia after the individual men’s and women’s events were adopted for the Tokyo Games in 2021.
ABC reported on October 13 that the city of Kaizuka, Osaka Prefecture, has announced that it will impose administrative sanctions on a group home for people with disabilities following reports of abuse against residents. The facility, Megumi Home, is operated by the nonprofit organization Yume ga Megumi. The administrative sanction involves the suspension of all designated service-provider status for three months.
Japan captain Ryo Kawamura has vowed to win men’s blind football gold at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Para Games and avenge a loss to China in April’s Asian Championship final that denied his team an automatic berth at the Los Angeles Paralympics.
The workers had been told by an employment support provider, which arranges workplaces for disabled people through a scheme known as the “disability employment business”, that they would be participating in an 18-month programme. Some were so shocked by the news that they became unable to continue working.
The report focused greatly on expected labour shortages which are thought will become even more severe by 2040, the role that technology will play in the care sector in the future with a strong emphasis on boosting productivity through the adoption of technology, such as artificial intelligence. The report also notes that survey results showed that more than 70% of the public are concerned about future staff shortages in healthcare.
The workers had been told by an employment support provider, which arranges workplaces for disabled people through a scheme known as the “disability employment business”, that they would be participating in an 18-month programme. Some were so shocked by the news that they became unable to continue working.
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government will hold the 25th Tokyo Skills Competition for Persons with Disabilities, known as the Tokyo Abilympics, on Feb. 20, 2027, and will accept applications from Oct. 19 to Nov. 13. Applications must be submitted through an online form to be published on the website of the organisation’s Tokyo branch. Applicants’ eligibility will be reviewed, and participants will be selected and notified individually. Selection may be necessary if applications exceed the available places.
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