Resident at Kochi disability facility died after being made to eat naked and unattended

From The Kumamoto Nichinichi Shimbun

May 27 2026

KOCHI – At a disability support facility in Shimanto, a resident was made to eat naked and left unattended, resulting in death; Kochi Prefecture imposes sanctions for abuse.

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.

The facility commented, “We deeply regret what happened. We will reflect on this and work to improve.” It also said it is considering disciplinary action against three staff members involved in the abuse.

The prefectural police are also investigating the case on suspicion of professional negligence resulting in death.

According to the prefecture and the facility, at around 7 p.m. on January 9, the resident died after being left unattended for about an hour in a shower room on the facility’s second floor without the monitoring assistance required during bathing. The incident came to light after the facility director reported it to the prefecture the following day, January 10.

A local government where the resident had previously lived conducted interviews with facility staff under the Act on the Prevention of Abuse of Persons with Disabilities and recognized four forms of abuse: physical, sexual, psychological abuse, and neglect/abandonment. The findings were then reported to the prefecture. Based on an audit conducted after receiving the report, the prefecture concluded that the abuse was “not habitual.” Authorities said the cause of death has not been determined.