Author: Michael Gillan Peckitt

UK & CP born, living in Japan, blogging about disability
by Michael Gillan Peckitt December 25, 2025 1
Disability Japan Welfare

Japan’s Welfare Ministry to Reduce Disability Reimbursement for 4 Services, Including Type B, Limited to New Facilities

The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) has decided on a policy to make an extraordinary revision to disability service fees in June 2026, under which the basic remuneration for newly established providers of four services, including Continuous Employment Support (Type B), will be reduced for fiscal year 2026 only. Existing providers will continue to receive the current basic remuneration.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt December 25, 2025 Number of comments0
Japan Medical Politics

Japanese Ministers Agree to Raise Medical Service Fees

Japanese Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama and health minister Kenichiro Ueno agreed Wednesday to raise medical service fees by 2.22 pct for a fiscal 2026 review. The two ministers agreed to increase the main portion of the fees, which mainly cover labor costs for medical workers, by an annual average of 3.09 pct over the two years from the fiscal year starting next April, while lowering official drug prices by 0.87 pct.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt December 24, 2025 Number of comments0
Disability Japan Podcast Welfare

Two Years After Japan’s Anti-Disability Discrimination Law Revision, Mixed Progress Perceived on ‘Reasonable Accommodation’ [Podcast Episode]

Nearly two years after Japan’s revised Act for Eliminating Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities made the provision of “reasonable accommodation” mandatory for private businesses, progress remains uneven. While some companies in Okayama Prefecture have introduced measures such as sign-language captions, communication apps, Braille menus, and barrier-free design, people with disabilities say daily experiences have changed little.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt December 23, 2025 1
Disability Discrimination Japan Welfare

Two Years After Japan’s Anti-Disability Discrimination Law Revision, Mixed Progress on “Reasonable Accommodation”

Nearly two years after Japan’s revised Act for Eliminating Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities made the provision of “reasonable accommodation” mandatory for private businesses, progress remains uneven. While some companies in Okayama Prefecture have introduced measures such as sign-language captions, communication apps, Braille menus, and barrier-free design, people with disabilities say daily experiences have changed little.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt December 23, 2025 1
Foreign Residents Immigration Japan Politics

Japanese Proficiency Eyed as Permanent Residency Requirements

Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party is considering adding Japanese language proficiency as a requirement for permanent residency for foreigners, sources familiar with the matter said Friday. To obtain the status, foreigners will also be mandated to take a program aimed at helping them smoothly integrate into local communities, the sources said. The envisaged new requirements will be included in a draft package of proposals on policy for foreign nationals, to be compiled next month for submission to the government.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt December 22, 2025 Number of comments0
Disability Health Hospitals Japan Medical

Japan Ruling Parties Agree to Curb Medical Costs by 188 B. Yen

Japan’s ruling parties agreed Friday to seek to reduce the country’s medical costs by 188 billion yen per year, by revising the eligibility of certain drugs for insurance coverage. The agreement was struck between the policy chiefs of the Liberal Democratic Party and the Japan Innovation Party (Nippon Ishin no Kai). The government plans to hammer out the details of the revised medical insurance system for pharmaceuticals based on the two parties’ agreement for implementation in the fiscal year beginning next April.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt December 21, 2025 Number of comments0
Disability Employment Japan Welfare

Japan Govt to set cap on number of ‘retained workers’ when calculating disability employment subsidies after excessive payments [Podcast Episode]

It has been learned that the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) is making arrangements to set an upper limit on the number of “retained workers” used to calculate support bonuses. This move comes in response to allegations that three “Type A Support Centers for Continuous Employment” in Osaka City received excessive payments. The Ministry revealed this plan on the 16th during a meeting to discuss revisions to the compensation system for disability welfare services.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt December 20, 2025 Number of comments0
Disability Employment Japan

700,000 People with Disabilities in Japan Employed by Companies; Only 46% Meet Employment Quota

The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare announced on the 19th the results of a survey showing that, as of June 1, the number of people with disabilities working at private companies stood at 704,610, a 4.0% increase from the previous year. This marks the 22nd consecutive year in which the figure has reached a record high. However, only 46.0% of companies achieved the legally mandated employment ratio of 2.5%, unchanged from the previous year.