Kodaira City Welfare Corporation Refused to Accept Whistleblower Report Regarding Unsanitary Conditions at Care Facilities

From The Tokyo Shimbun

October 15 2023

Kodaira City, Tokyo – Kyodo News has obtained audio data from a social welfare corporation in Kodaira City, Tokyo, which operates workplaces and group homes for people with disabilities, and learned that a staff member had filed a whistleblower report with the city alleging that a tick infestation caused by unsanitary conditions was neglected, but that the department in charge refused to accept the report.

Internal documents and testimonies from related persons also revealed that the corporation had been assaulting and verbally abusing mentally handicapped persons for a long period of time by several employees, including board members. Several staff members claimed that the city had received reports in the past, but had failed to provide proper guidance, and it is possible that the city’s inadequate response prolonged the damage.

The Law for the Prevention of Abuse of Persons with Disabilities obliges those who discover abuse to report it to the municipal government. A Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare official stated that “Normally, we should accept the report and investigate,” but the city responded to our interview, “We are taking action in accordance with the law.

The corporation is Tokiwa-kai. According to the stories of the employees and audio data, two employees visited the city’s Disability Support Division in December of last year. The assistant manager who answered the call did not accept the report.