More than 20,000 People with Disabilities in Japan Waiting for Care Facilities Across 30 Prefectures, Kumamoto quake updates [Podcast Episode]

By Barrier Free Japan

August 5 2026

KUMAMOTO – At least 20,000 people with disabilities across 30 prefectures are waiting to enter residential care facilities or group homes (GHs) despite wishing to use them, a nationwide survey by Kyodo News found on Aug. 2. Seventeen prefectures said they either did not track waiting lists or did not disclose the figures, citing reasons such as the lack of a standardized method for compiling the data.

Episode notes:

‘More than 20,000 People with Disabilities in Japan Waiting for Care Facilities Across 30 Prefectures; Government Lacks Comprehensive Data’:

More than 20,000 People with Disabilities in Japan Waiting for Care Facilities Across 30 Prefectures; Government Lacks Comprehensive Data