Author: Michael Gillan Peckitt

UK & CP born, living in Japan, blogging about disability
by Michael Gillan Peckitt May 28, 2026 Number of comments0
Abuse Care Disability Japan

Resident at Kochi disability facility died after being made to eat naked and unattended

On the 27th, Kochi Prefecture announced an administrative punishment against “Residence Wakafuji,” a disability support facility in Shimanto City, Kochi Prefecture, after abuse was found in which a resident was made to eat while naked in a shower room and then left unattended for a prolonged period, leading to the person’s death. The facility will be barred from accepting new residents for three months beginning June 1.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt May 27, 2026 1
Disability Japan Welfare

Japan’s Disability Pension Review Questioned; Staff Say “No One Will Tell the Truth in Internal Probe’”

A controversy has emerged over Japan’s disability pension system after reports that staff at the Japan Pension Service had, in some cases, secretly discarded doctors’ assessment results and asked other doctors to re-evaluate applications. An internal document acknowledged the risk that reviews could be repeated until staff were satisfied, suggesting potential arbitrariness, but the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare concluded it could not confirm such behavior and attributed most cases to errors or scheduling constraints under a strict three-month processing deadline. However, some staff remain skeptical of the ministry’s findings, arguing that internal investigations cannot uncover the truth and that reassessments were sometimes influenced by expectations about how particular doctors would rule, raising concerns about transparency and fairness in the system

by Michael Gillan Peckitt May 27, 2026 Number of comments0
Barrier Free Disability Japan Podcast Sagamihara

Sagamihara City staff attend disability awareness training course [Podcast Episode]

During the roughly 45-minute session, the employees watched videos created in collaboration with organizations for people with disabilities to learn about the specific challenges faced by individuals with visual, hearing, and other impairments. In group workshops, they discussed what kind of assistance they could provide in daily life.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt May 24, 2026 Number of comments0
Disability Japan Elderly Relationships Artificial Intelligence

Half of elderly women in Japan prefer AI over humans for personal advice

According to the Japan Institute for Promotion of Digital Economy and Community survey, conducted online in mid-January, when asked whether they would prefer to consult a human or AI about relationship issues, 47.8 percent of female respondents in their 60s and 70s chose AI, which is more than the 37.3 percent who preferred humans.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt May 23, 2026 Number of comments0
Blind Disability Entertainment Japan

USJ Introduces Japan’s First Theme Park “Navigation Device” to Guide Visually Impaired Guests via Vibrations

Universal Studios Japan has become the first theme park in the country to begin renting out navigation devices that guide visually impaired guests through vibrations. The device, which attaches to the shoe and was introduced on the 22nd, allows users to set their destination via a dedicated app. It then alerts them of the correct direction and when to turn using vibrations. Because the guidance does not rely on audio, users can navigate the park while fully enjoying its atmosphere.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt May 22, 2026 Number of comments0
Disability Japan Welfare

Japan’s Ministry of Finance calls for spending curbs on welfare services for people with disabilities [Podcast Episode]

At the Fiscal System Subcommittee of the Fiscal System Council held on April 28, discussions were also held on the field of disability welfare. The Ministry of Finance stated that the total cost of disability welfare services, combining public expenditures and user co-payments, had reached 4.2 trillion yen as of fiscal year 2024, roughly doubling over the past decade, and expressed the view that it is necessary to curb further cost increases.