Author: Michael Gillan Peckitt

UK & CP born, living in Japan, blogging about disability
by Michael Gillan Peckitt February 26, 2023 1
Disability Discrimination Intellectual disabilities Japan

Survey Shows 19% of People with Intellectual Disabilities in Japan Continue to Face Restrictions Regarding Social Relationships

Kyodo News conducted a survey of people with intellectual disabilities and their families nationwide regarding the problem of people with intellectual disabilities being sterilized or treated at a group home in Hokkaido, , it was found on February 26 that approximately one in five (19%) people in their 20s or older have experienced opposition or restrictions from those around them regarding love, marriage or childbirth.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt February 25, 2023 Number of comments0
Disability Eugenics Forced Sterilization Japan

Japanese court orders government to pay damages over forced sterilization

A Japanese court on Friday ordered the government to pay damages to a hearing-impaired woman who underwent forced sterilization under a now-defunct eugenics protection law, the fourth such ruling.

The Shizuoka District Court found the 1948 law unconstitutional and awarded 16.5 million yen ($123,000) to the plaintiff, a resident of the central Japan prefecture, who filed the lawsuit in 2019 claiming she underwent sterilization surgery in 1970.

It is the fourth case in which damages have been awarded over forced sterilization, following rulings by the Tokyo and Osaka high courts and the Kumamoto District Court.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt February 25, 2023 Number of comments0
Disability Discrimination Intellectual disabilities Japan Podcast

Disability News Japan Podcast: Documentary ‘On The Way Home’ Alleges Discrimination Against Intellectually Disabled By Japan’s Police

At approximately 6PM on September 25th, 2007, 25-year-old Kenta Yasunaga was cycling home from a workshop he regularly attended in Saga Prefecture, southwestern Japan, when police officers attempted to stop him, believing him to be acting suspiciously.

However, Kenta Yasunaga had difficulties in communicating due to his autism. Kenta Yasunaga would later die at the hospital to which he was taken and his cause of death was found to be acute cardiac arrest.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt February 25, 2023 1
Crime Disability Discrimination Japan

Documentary ‘On The Way Home’ alleges prejudice by police towards people with intellectual disabilities in Japan

At approximately 6PM on September 25th, 2007, 25-year-old Kenta Yasunaga was cycling home from a workshop he regularly attended in Saga Prefecture, southwestern Japan, when police officers attempted to stop him, believing him to be acting suspiciously. However, Kenta Yasunaga had difficulties in communicating due to his autism. Five officers seized him as he fiercely resisted and moaned in distress. His hands were cuffed behind his back, and he soon fell unconscious. Kenta Yasunaga would later die at the hospital to which he was taken and his cause of death was found to be acute cardiac arrest.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt February 22, 2023 Number of comments0
Coronavirus COVID-19 Disability Elderly Japan

Japan to offer 2 COVID-19 booster shots to elderly, those with underlying conditions by year-end

People aged 65 years or older, those with underlying medical conditions and health care professionals will have a chance to get inoculated from May to August, as well as from September to December. Other age groups eligible for COVID-19 vaccinations can also get a shot during the four months through December.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt February 21, 2023 Number of comments0
Abuse Care Disability Hokkaido Japan

Former staff member at a facility for the disabled in Hokkaido arrested on suspicion of assault

A 28-year-old former employee of a support facility for people with disabilities in Wakkanai was arrested on suspicion of assault at the facility for deliberately putting their foot on a resident and causing the resident to fall over. The police are investigating in detail whether the abuse was a regular occurrence.