Author: Michael Gillan Peckitt

UK & CP born, living in Japan, blogging about disability
by Michael Gillan Peckitt April 25, 2025 Number of comments0
Care Group Homes (GH) Japan Podcast

Okinawa Group Home for People with Disabilities Suspected of Overcharging without Meeting Standards has Designation Revoked [Podcast Episode]

According to the prefecture, from the time the facility was designated as a disability welfare service provider in August two years ago until an audit conducted in November last year, the home had delegated operations to another organization, with the official manager failing to carry out oversight duties. Furthermore, it failed to create individualized support plans for users, among other violations of operational standards.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt April 24, 2025 1
Care Disability Group Homes (GH) Japan Welfare

Okinawa Group Home for People with Disabilities Suspected of Overcharging without Meeting Standards has Designation Revoked

A group home for people with disabilities located in Uruma City has been found to be operating without meeting required standards and allegedly overcharging for service benefits. The prefectural government has announced that it will revoke the facility’s designation as a disability welfare service provider.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt April 24, 2025 Number of comments0
Elderly Health Japan Medical

Japan Health Insurance Premium Rate to Hit Record High

The National Federation of Health Insurance Societies, or Kenporen, said Wednesday that the average premium rate at corporate health insurance societies in Japan is expected to hit a record high of 9.34 pct in fiscal 2025. The rate is projected to rise 0.03 percentage point from the previous year ended in March, affected by higher contributions to the medical care services for the elderly, according to the group of health insurance societies for employees of large corporations and their families.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt April 22, 2025 Number of comments0
Health Hospitals Infectious Diseases Japan

Japan Reports 1st Tally of Acute Respiratory Infection Cases

The number of new cases of acute respiratory infection, or ARI, reported at some 3,000 designated medical institutions across Japan was 181,270 in the week through April 13, a national institute said Tuesday. According to the Japan Institute for Health Security, the number of ARI patients per medical institution in the reporting week stood at 49.39. By prefecture, Tochigi logged the highest figure, at 94.13, and Kochi posted the lowest figure, at 27.37. The number of ARI patients will be released every Tuesday, and the overview of the ARI situation in Japan will be updated every Friday.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt April 21, 2025 Number of comments0
ADHD Autism Barrier Free Disability Discrimination Japan

Ahead of Going On Sale Publisher of Controversial Book Depicting Neurodivergent People as Animals and as ‘Difficult’ Responds to Criticism

Publisher Mikasa Shobo released a press statement on April 18th addressing the criticisms of the book ‘Psychological Techniques to Skillfully Handle Difficult People in the Workplace” by Yuko Kanda ahead of its publication on April 22nd.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt April 21, 2025 Number of comments0
ADHD Autism Barrier Free Discrimination Japan Podcast Work

“ASD is a sloth, ADHD is a monkey”: New Book by Japanese Counselor Classifying Autistic People as Animals Sparks Controversy [Podcast Episode]

A new book by the counselor Yuko Kanda, that categorizes people suffering from conditions such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), ADHD, depression, and trauma disorders as animals — and portrays them as “troublesome people in the workplace” — is drawing strong backlash for promoting discriminatory views. The book claims to be packed with “techniques for winning without fighting.”

by Michael Gillan Peckitt April 19, 2025 2
ADHD Autism Barrier Free Disability Discrimination Japan Work

“ASD is a sloth, ADHD is a monkey, trauma disorder is a sheep” New Book by Japanese Counselor Classifying Neurodivergent People as Animals Sparks Controversy

A new book by the counselor Yuko Kanda that categorizes people suffering from conditions such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), ADHD, depression, and trauma disorders as animals — and portrays them as “troublesome people in the workplace” — is drawing strong backlash for promoting discriminatory views. The book claims to be packed with “techniques for winning without fighting.”

by Michael Gillan Peckitt April 19, 2025 Number of comments0
Abuse Children Disability Japan Welfare

Japan Enacts Bill to Better Protect Kids from Abuse

The legislation for revisions to child welfare and other laws is designed to make it easier to restrict meetings of parents with their children under the protection of child consultation centers.
Following the revisions, it will be possible to place such restrictions on parents and other guardians in cases in which abuse is suspected but not yet officially recognized. This will help prevent centers from falling into trouble with parents.