Author: Michael Gillan Peckitt

UK & CP born, living in Japan, blogging about disability
by Michael Gillan Peckitt June 18, 2023 Number of comments0
Birth Rate Care Children Japan

Mothers denied postpartum care in 14% of Japan municipalities: survey

About 14.4 percent of municipalities in Japan had cases in which mothers were denied care after giving birth, a survey recently showed, underscoring the country’s need to address the issue as it tries to reverse its declining birthrate.

The rate of rejection for reasons including a shortage of care facilities was even higher in municipalities with a population of 200,000 or more at 43.0 percent, according to the survey commissioned by the government and conducted last fall by Nomura Research Institute.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt June 17, 2023 Number of comments0
Disability Eugenics Forced Sterilization Japan

Report sheds light on forced sterilization under Japan’s now-defunct law

Japanese authorities have drawn up a draft investigative report shedding light on how thousands of people were forcibly sterilized under the now-defunct Eugenic Protection Law.

National statistics show that roughly 25,000 people underwent sterilization under the eugenics law, including those who did give their consent for the surgery. The law had authorized surgery without consent on people with mental or genetic disabilities to prevent the birth of what the law called “inferior descendants”. It was scrapped in 1996.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt June 17, 2023 Number of comments0
Disability Eugenics Forced Sterilization Japan

Report to Mention Forced Sterilization of 9-Yr-Olds under Former Law in Japan

A report to be submitted to the speakers of both chambers of the Diet, Japan’s parliament, as early as Monday will reveal that 9-year-old children were among the disabled people forced to undergo sterilization under the now-defunct eugenic protection law, a draft of the report showed Saturday.

According to the draft, the 1,400-page report will note that sterilization under the law peaked in 1955, and that a total of about 25,000 people are believed to have had sterilization surgery, with 66 pct of them sterilized without their consent.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt June 17, 2023 Number of comments0
Coronavirus COVID-19 Japan

Japan Panel Warns of Possible COVID-19 Resurgence in Summer

A Japanese health ministry panel of experts said Friday that a certain level of COVID-19 resurgence may occur in the country in summer as the number of new infection cases has been rising since the status of the disease was downgraded in May.
The number of new COVID-19 cases in the week through Sunday grew 1.12 fold from the previous week to 25,163, or 5.11 per hospital, according to a fixed-point survey covering designated hospitals across the country.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt June 15, 2023 Number of comments0
Disability Genetics Japan Medical

Japan Team Identifies Mutations Linked to Brain Aneurysms

A Japanese research team has identified gene mutations involved in the development of brain aneurysms, a discovery that raises hopes for pharmaceutical treatment of the condition.

About 5 pct of Japanese people are said to have brain aneurysms that have not ruptured. But the only treatment available is surgical procedures such as those using vascular catheters and craniotomy, in which part of the skull is temporarily removed.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt June 15, 2023 Number of comments0
Barrier Free Disability Japan Nagoya Tourism

Wheelchair User Told to “Be Patient” at Public Meeting about ‘Barrier Free’ Access to Nagoya Castle

At the citizens’ debate on June 3rd, where the theme was barrier-free access, a man in a wheelchair expressed his opinion, calling for the installation of an elevator (EV) to the top floor of the castle tower. In response, other participants who were in favor of not requiring EVs used discriminatory expressions that insulted the physically disabled, and countered with comments such as “Be patient” and “You are being too impudent.” This comment was followed by applause from some in the audience.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt June 14, 2023 Number of comments0
Dementia Disability Japan

Japan’s Upper House passes law to support people with dementia

Japan’s Upper House of the Diet has enacted a bill aimed at providing support for people with dementia to live with dignity. It was unanimously approved on Wednesday.

A study group of the health ministry says the number of people afflicted with the condition in Japan is increasing annually. The group expects the figure to reach around 7 million in 2025.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt June 12, 2023 Number of comments0
Assassination of Shinzo Abe Crime Japan

Pretrial Hearing for Alleged Abe Killer Cancelled over Suspicious Item

Nara District Court canceled Monday’s pretrial hearing for the suspect of the fatal shooting of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, after a suspicious cardboard box arrived at the court in western Japan on the day.

After the box was checked with a metal detector, an official at the court in the city of Nara reported the incident to the police department of Nara Prefecture.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt June 12, 2023 Number of comments0
Disability Japan Nagoya Podcast

Disability News Japan Podcast: Nagoya Mayor apologizes for Discriminatory Remarks by Participants Toward the Disabled in ‘Barrier-Free Castle debate’

At a public debate held on June 3rd regarding barrier-free measures when restoring the wooden castle tower of Nagoya Castle, some participants said that an elevator that can go up to the top floor, which groups for the disabled and others are calling for, is unnecessary. Some were claiming that this was a discriminatory remark that made fun of people with disabilities.