Author: Michael Gillan Peckitt

UK & CP born, living in Japan, blogging about disability
by Michael Gillan Peckitt September 22, 2024 Number of comments0
Deaf Japan Sign Language

Japan Princess Kako Attends High School Sign Language Contest

Japanese Princess Kako, the second daughter of Crown Prince Akishino and Crown Princess Kiko, attended a national sign language performance contest for high school students Sunday. 

 “I hope that through this contest, people’s understanding will deepen of various languages including sign language, complete hearing loss and hearing difficulty, and backgrounds and situations different from their own,” she said in sign language at the opening ceremony of the event, held in Yonago, Tottori Prefecture, western Japan.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt September 21, 2024 Number of comments0
Disability Elderly Group Homes (GH) Japan Welfare

Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare to conduct survey of people with disabilities on waiting list for facilities in October

According to a questionnaire survey conducted by NHK in collaboration with experts this year in all prefectures and municipalities across the country, there are at least 22,000 people with disabilities who wish to use large-scale “residential facilities” or “group homes” where small numbers of people live, but are on waiting list.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt September 20, 2024 Number of comments0
Disability Discrimination Education Japan Podcast

“You won’t let him go to school”: Hyogo parents and child with disabilities file suit, claiming their “human rights were violated” [Podcast Episode]

On September 17th, two parents and their children in Amagasaki City, Hyogo Prefecture, filed a human rights complaint with the Japan Federation of Bar Associations, claiming that their opinions and those of their guardians were not respected and were harmed during school counselling sessions for their children with disabilities.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt September 20, 2024 Number of comments0
Abuse Disability Employment Japan Welfare Work

Abuse of People with Disabilities at the Workplace on the Rise, Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare Reports

A report published by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare on the 4th, states that the number of workplaces where abuse was confirmed (including overlaps) increased by 4% from the previous year to 447, and the number of people with disabilities who were abused increased by 16% to 761.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt September 19, 2024 Number of comments0
Disability Discrimination Education Japan

“You won’t let him go to school”: Parents and child file suit, claiming their “human rights were violated” during consultation on school enrollment for disabled child

The parents and children allege that they wished to study in regular classes at public elementary and junior high schools, but were not accepted by the local public schools and the Board of Education, and that they were further subjected to human rights violations in which their wishes were denied by the parents and children, who were subjected to hurtful words during the consultation.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt September 18, 2024 Number of comments0
Health Japan Kobayashi Pharmaceutical Co.

Puberulic Acid Causes Beni Koji-Linked Health Damage

Japan’s health ministry said Wednesday that puberulic acid caused kidney damage to users of Kobayashi Pharmaceutical Co.’s supplements containing “beni koji” red fermented rice. The acid is one of three chemical compounds detected in the supplements, while no kidney toxicity was confirmed in animal experiments from the other two compounds, the ministry said.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt September 18, 2024 Number of comments0
Disability Employment Japan Robotics

New ‘ultra-short-time employment’ experiment for people with disabilities using avatar robots to be conducted in Tokyo’s Toshima Ward

Toshima Ward will conduct an experiment on a new employment model for people with disabilities at the Sunshine City complex (Higashi-Ikebukuro). For the month of November, people with mental and intellectual disabilities will work short hours, and people who have difficulty going out will serve customers using avatar robots. An agreement was signed with the company on the 6th of this month for the experiment. In the experiment, about 10 ward residents with disabilities will practice the employment model at Sunshine City’s reception desk, aquarium, and observation deck. They will not be paid, but participants will receive a subsidy from the ward.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt September 18, 2024 Number of comments0
Disability Film Japan Mark Bookman

Documentary film ‘Mark: A Call To Action’ to be released on DVD on October 8th 2024 [Podcast Episode]

Mark Bookman was a historian, whose specialism was disability policy and related social movements in Japanese and global contexts. He studied Japanese Studies at University of Pennsylvania, and at the time of his death on December 16th 2022 he was Postdoctoral Fellow at The University of Tokyo. The documentary film ‘Mark: A Call To Action’, directed by Ron Small about Mark, will be released on DVD on October 8th 2024:

by Michael Gillan Peckitt September 17, 2024 Number of comments0
2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake Disability Disasters Discrimination Japan

Annual ‘Miyagi Appeal Action’ Held in Sendai to Raise Awareness About Issues Facing People with Disabilities 

he “Miyagi Appeal Action” rally was held in Sendai City on the 16th to raise awareness of the discrimination and difficulties facing people with disabilities. This is held annually by an executive committee made up of over 40 disability groups in Miyagi Prefecture. This year, in response to the Noto Peninsula earthquake, the theme was “Disability and Disaster Prevention,” and an appeal was adopted calling on the government to develop disaster prevention and evacuation plans that reflect the perspectives of people with disabilities.