Kanagawa Governor Kuroiwa inspects facilities for persons with intellectual disabilities

From NHK

October 5 2021

KANAGAWA – Governor Kuroiwa of Kanagawa Prefecture visited a prefectural facility for the mentally disabled in Nakai Town, which was found to have a series of prolonged physical restraints on residents in February of this year, and expressed his intention to make every effort to reform the facility’s management.

Nakai Yamayurien, a prefectural facility for the mentally disabled located in Nakai Town, was found to have locked two residents in their rooms for more than 8 hours on multiple occasions in February of this year, which was recognized as abuse as it was more physical restraint than necessary. It was also found that there was a case where a child was confined to a private room for more than 20 hours, although it was not recognized as abuse.

In addition, a male resident in his twenties suffered a broken collarbone in July of last year, and the prefectural government has begun to re-examine the case because there are suggestions that the staff may have been violent. On the 5th, Governor Kuroiwa visited the facility and spent about an hour and a half inspecting the operation of the facility, guided by the director and staff, and listening to the residents.

After the inspection, Governor Kuroiwa said, “When I talked with the residents, I was able to communicate with them, and I was left wondering if it was really necessary to confine them to their rooms for a long time. I will do my best to reform the facility so that we can provide support based on the perspective of the people concerned. Also, I would like to proceed with the verification of the actual situation regarding the broken bones of the residents.