Author: Michael Gillan Peckitt

UK & CP born, living in Japan, blogging about disability
by Michael Gillan Peckitt February 22, 2024 Number of comments0
Care Crime Disability Japan Welfare

Gunma Support Facility Operator for Children with Disabilities has Designation Revoked Over Fraudulent Claims

In Kiryu City, a business operator that operates a support facility for children with disabilities fraudulently lost over 2.5 million yen in benefits from the city and other organizations by pretending that the manager was working full-time. The prefecture’s designation was revoked as a result of an administrative penalty for receiving the benefits.

The prefecture will cancel the designation of this business operator on April 1st, meaning that the business operator will not be able to provide support for children with disabilities for five years thereafter.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt February 21, 2024 1
Crime Disability Intellectual disabilities Japan Mental Health Sex

Disabled woman forced to sell body sentenced for killing client

A mentally disabled woman who was forced into prostitution was given a six-year prison term for fatally stabbing an elderly client she was trying to steal from at a Tokyo love hotel.

The Tokyo District Court on Feb. 20 convicted Haruka Fujii, 26, of injury resulting in the death of the 82-year-old customer in Tokyo’s Ikebukuro district in 2022.

Prosecutors had sought a nine-year prison sentence, but the court took into account Fujii’s mental condition that made her vulnerable to exploitation and prone to involuntary criminal activity.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt February 17, 2024 1
Barrier Free Disability Japan Travel

Japan’s Transport Ministry Points Out Language Used to Refer to Disabled on Airline Website May Be Misinterpreted

TokiAir, an airline that began service last month, posted information on its website for passengers. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism (MLIT) pointed out that some expressions on the website could be misinterpreted as requiring disabled persons to be accompanied by an escort on a uniform basis. In response, the company changed the content and commented that it did not intend to discriminate.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt February 16, 2024 Number of comments0
Disability Japan Writing

Publisher opens ‘forest of patients’ stories’ in Osaka

A private library of more than 1,000 medical memoirs recently opened to the public in Osaka. The library is called “Tobyoki no Mori” (the forest of patients’ stories). It includes books by entertainers about their battles with cancer, memoirs of everyday people with intractable diseases such as Parkinson’s and books by people living with disabilities.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt February 14, 2024 Number of comments0
Crime Disability Japan Mental Health

Parents arrested in Tokyo over fatal drugging of 4-yr-old daughter, use of antipsychotic drug suspected

Parents of a 4-year-old girl were arrested Wednesday for allegedly killing her with a toxic substance and antipsychotic drug at their home in Tokyo in March last year, police said.

Kenichi Hosoya, 43, and his wife, Shiho, 37, were arrested after their daughter, Yoshiki, died from poisoning on March 13, with ethylene glycol and large amounts of olanzapine, a medicine prescribed for mental disorders, detected in her body, an investigative source said.