Author: Michael Gillan Peckitt

UK & CP born, living in Japan, blogging about disability
by Michael Gillan Peckitt June 17, 2026 1
Disability Japan Crime Children Sexual Assault

Former Employee of Facility for Disabled Re-arrested for Fourth Time Over Sexual Assault of 9-Year-Old Girl

Goto is suspected of sexually assaulting a girl who attended the facility (then aged 9) in February of the year before last at a restroom in a shopping mall in Kashiwa City, Chiba Prefecture, knowing that she was under the age of 13. He is also suspected of filming the assault. Goto had previously been arrested and indicted for allegedly committing indecent acts against a five-year-old girl who also attended the same disability support facility and filming those acts. This latest case marks his fourth arrest.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt June 17, 2026 Number of comments0
Crime Disability Japan Podcast Welfare

Yao City Hall Employee Stopped by Station Staff at Ticket Gate; Forged Disability Certificate Found in Bag [Podcast Episode]

On the 12th, the city of Yao, Osaka Prefecture, announced that it had imposed a six-month suspension as a disciplinary measure on a 60-year-old assistant section chief in the Environmental Department for attempting to ride the railway without paying the proper fare and for forging a physical disability certificate. The employee reportedly submitted his resignation on the same day, which was accepted.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt June 15, 2026 1
Crime Disability Japan

Yao City Hall Employee Stopped by Station Staff at Ticket Gate; Forged Disability Certificate Found in Bag

On the 12th, the city of Yao, Osaka Prefecture, announced that it had imposed a six-month suspension as a disciplinary measure on a 60-year-old assistant section chief in the Environmental Department for attempting to ride the railway without paying the proper fare and for forging a physical disability certificate. The employee reportedly submitted his resignation on the same day, which was accepted.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt June 15, 2026 Number of comments0
Disability Japan Kumamoto Podcast Welfare

Kumamoto City Investigates Disability Allowance Re-certification Procedures After “bedridden” Resident Had Welfare Payments Stopped [Podcast Episode]

According to the Kumamoto Ombudsman, the recipient was bedridden and unable to visit a medical institution for an examination, yet the city suspended the allowance on the grounds that the required medical certificate had not been submitted. The Ombudsman pointed out that the recipient’s relatives had consulted the city about alternative means of completing the procedure, but the city had not accepted those requests.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt June 14, 2026 Number of comments0
Disability Group Homes (GH) Japan Welfare

Japan’s Welfare Ministry to Introduce New Qualification Requirements for Disability Group Home Managers

The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) has announced its intention to introduce new qualification requirements for managers of disability group homes and to make training mandatory for staff members. The proposal was presented on the 5th at a meeting of the Social Security Council’s Subcommittee on Persons with Disabilities (chaired by Professor Kohei Komamura of Keio University). The move aims to improve the quality of services in response to a growing number of cases in recent years involving inappropriate practices by operators that prioritize profit over proper care.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt June 13, 2026 Number of comments0
Disability Intellectual disabilities Japan Welfare

Fukuoka City Considers Expanding Disposable Diaper Subsidies for People with Severe Disabilities, Keeping Intellectual Disabilities in Mind

According to the city’s Welfare Division for the Disabled Living at Home, the city’s Daily Life Equipment Benefit Project—which supports individuals with disabilities—currently provides a monthly subsidy of 12,000 yen for disposable diapers. This benefit is restricted to specific groups, such as individuals unable to use a stoma (artificial anus/bladder) or those with severe physical disabilities resulting from cerebral palsy developed before roughly 3 years of age. Conversely, individuals with severe intellectual disabilities, or those who acquired severe physical disabilities later in life due to traffic accidents or other causes, are currently excluded from the subsidy.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt June 12, 2026 Number of comments0
Barrier Free Disability Japan Podcast QR Code Travel

JR East to Shift from Magnetic to QR Code Tickets in 2027 [Podcast Episode]

East Japan Railway Co., or JR East, said on Tuesday 9th June that it will discontinue magnetic short-distance tickets sold at all stations on its conventional lines and replace them with QR code tickets in spring 2027. While the current tickets are inserted into fare gates, the new tickets will require passengers to read QR codes on them at readers at the gates.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt June 11, 2026 1
Barrier Free Disability Japan Kumamoto Welfare

Kumamoto City Investigates Disability Allowance Re-certification Procedures After “bedridden” Resident Had Welfare Payments Stopped

According to the Kumamoto Ombudsman, the recipient was bedridden and unable to visit a medical institution for an examination, yet the city suspended the allowance on the grounds that the required medical certificate had not been submitted. The Ombudsman pointed out that the recipient’s relatives had consulted the city about alternative means of completing the procedure, but the city had not accepted those requests.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt June 10, 2026 1
Barrier Free Disability Japan Japan Railway Company QR Code Technology Travel

JR East to Shift from Magnetic to QR Code Tickets in 2027

East Japan Railway Co., or JR East, said on Tuesday 9th June that it will discontinue magnetic short-distance tickets sold at all stations on its conventional lines and replace them with QR code tickets in spring 2027. While the current tickets are inserted into fare gates, the new tickets will require passengers to read QR codes on them at readers at the gates.