Author: Michael Gillan Peckitt

UK & CP born, living in Japan, blogging about disability
by Michael Gillan Peckitt January 22, 2026 Number of comments0
Disability Health Japan Mental Health

Japan Health Ministry to Review Mental Disorder Criteria Under ICD-11

Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare will hold a meeting on Thursday, Jan. 29, to examine disease names covered by certification criteria for mental disorders following the domestic application of the ICD-11 international disease classification system. The study group, convened under the supervision of the ministry’s Director-General for Policy Planning in charge of industrial accidents and wages, is composed of experts with specialized knowledge in medicine and related fields. Members of the public wishing to observe the meeting must apply in advance in accordance with the ministry’s observer guidelines.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt January 22, 2026 Number of comments0
Health Japan Politics Reiwa Shinsengumi Reiwa Shinsengumi

Reiwa Shinsengumi Chief Yamamoto Resigns from Upper House Due to Health Problems

Taro Yamamoto, leader of Japanese opposition party Reiwa Shinsengumi, on Wednesday resigned from the House of Councillors, the upper chamber of the Diet, the country’s parliament, due to health problems.
   “I’m one step away from multiple myeloma, a cancer of the blood. If I don’t live by the main theme of not letting it progress, I could lose my life,” Yamamoto said in a video posted on the party’s official YouTube channel.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt January 21, 2026 1
Assassination of Shinzo Abe Crime Japan Unification Church

Judge in Ex-PM Abe Trial Says of Killer: “It cannot be said that his background had a great impact”

Presiding Judge Shinichi Tanaka suggested that the motive claimed was irrational, stating, “It cannot be said that his background had a great impact.” During the trial, the defense argued that, given Yamagami’s troubled background related to the controversial religious group Unification Church, with which Abe allegedly had ties, his sentence should be no more than 20 years.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt January 21, 2026 Number of comments0
Barrier Free Disability Disasters Japan

Japanese Prefectures Asked to Secure Hotels as Shelters

The Japanese government has asked prefectures to lead efforts to secure hotels as shelters during large-scale disasters. Guidelines drawn up by the Cabinet Office call on local officials, mainly at prefectural governments, to work to secure accommodation and match it with evacuees. The Cabinet Office also advises local governments to list hotels based on whether rooms are barrier-free and if evacuees can use them continuously for a certain period.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt January 21, 2026 Number of comments0
Disability Japan Podcast Welfare

Tokyo Opposes Cuts to Disability Welfare Fees [Podcast Episode]

On December 23 last year, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government submitted a request to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare and the Children and Families Agency regarding the June 2026 interim revision of disability welfare service fees, calling on them not to implement a nationwide reduction in basic compensation for newly established providers of certain services.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt January 20, 2026 Number of comments0
Assassination of Shinzo Abe Crime Japan Unification Church

Court to Hand Sentence to PM Abe Shooter Wednesday 21st January

A district court in western Japan is scheduled to hand down a sentence on Wednesday to the man accused of fatally shooting former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in 2022. A key issue is how Nara District Court will assess the influence on the defendant, Tetsuya Yamagami, of his mother’s involvement with the Unification Church, formally known as the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt January 19, 2026 Number of comments0
Disability Japan Welfare

Japan Probes Disability Pension Reviews After 61 Cases Shifted to Non-Payment

Japan’s Health, Labour and Welfare Ministry has begun investigating the handling of disability pension assessments after it emerged that some decisions were changed following re-evaluations requested by Japan Pension Service staff. The ministry reported that over the roughly three months since October last year, 61 cases were revised from payment to non-payment or suspension after reassessment, while 120 cases were changed from non-payment to payment. Disability pension eligibility is determined by physicians commissioned by the pension service, but media reports prompted concerns that staff-initiated re-evaluations could overturn initial approvals. An interim probe found that reassessments accounted for about 1% of all cases since fiscal 2024, and while some original assessment documents had previously been discarded, the ministry said it has found no evidence so far of intentional non-payment.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt January 19, 2026 Number of comments0
Disability Japan Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympic Games Para Sports Paralympics Sports

Snowboarding, curling gold prospects named Japan Winter Paralympic Flagbearers

Gold medal hopefuls in snowboarding and wheelchair curling will be Japan’s flagbearers at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Paralympics. The country’s Paralympic Committee named Aki Ogawa, one half of Japan’s mixed doubles wheelchair curling team, and para snowboarder Junta Kosuda as the flagbearers while announcing the first 40 members of its delegation on Friday.