Author: Michael Gillan Peckitt

UK & CP born, living in Japan, blogging about disability
Intellectual disabilities Japan Politics

LDP Hopeful Shinjiro Koizumi accused of being “intellectually low” at press conference announcing candidacy

The Tokyo Shimbun reported that although he is considered one of the “favorite” candidates due to his high name recognition and ability to communicate, there are strong concerns about his ability to answer questions as prime minister, as he has made some unique statements at international conferences, such as “I will tackle climate change in a sexy way.”

Abuse Disability Employment Japan Podcast Work

761 people with disabilities in Japan suffered abuse at work last year [Podcast Episode]

A survey by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare found that 761 people with disabilities suffered abuse at work, such as unpaid wages and verbal abuse, last year, an increase of 105 from the previous year. This is thought to be due to the recovery of economic activity from COVID-19, which has increased employment opportunities for people with disabilities.

2024 Paris Summer Paralympics Disability Japan Para Sports Paralympics Sports

Japan’s Oda Wins Gold in Paralympic Wheelchair Tennis

Japan’s Tokito Oda won gold in men’s wheelchair tennis singles at the Paris Paralympics on Saturday. 

Oda, 18, defended the title that Japan’s Shingo Kunieda clinched in the previous Paralympics in Tokyo in 2021.

The victory by Oda brought Japan three gold medals and one silver medal in wheelchair tennis at the Paris Games.

Abuse Disability Employment Japan Work

761 people with disabilities in Japan suffered abuse at work last year, 105 more than the previous year

A survey by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare found that 761 people with disabilities suffered abuse at work, such as unpaid wages and verbal abuse, last year, an increase of 105 from the previous year. This is thought to be due to the recovery of economic activity from COVID-19, which has increased employment opportunities for people with disabilities.

Employment Hokkaido Farm Abuse Case Japan Welfare

As Farms in Japan Continue to Use Agencies for Disabled Workers, Concerns About ‘Padding’ & Meaningfulness of Jobs Remain

In early May 2024 it was reported how, as the employment rate for people with disabilities rose in April 2024, the number of businesses providing work opportunities to people with disabilities on behalf of companies is expanding. However, it is becoming clear that many businesses, but seemingly especially farms, use agencies to hire people with disabilities, without giving them actual work to do; one employee who had a disability was told “coming to the farm is your job.”

Barrier Free Disability Japan Welfare

Toward the elimination of discrimination against people with disabilities, opinions are exchanged at a Niigata prefectural council

The Disability Policy Promotion Council, which is made up of people with disabilities and academic experts, met in Niigata City to exchange opinions on the policies being implemented by the prefecture. Seventeen people attended the meeting of the Disability Policy Promotion Council, and the results of a questionnaire survey conducted by the prefecture last year targeting people with disabilities were announced. 373 people with disabilities living in the prefecture responded to the survey, and 115 people, or 30.8%, answered that they had been discriminated against or had a bad experience.