Category: Barrier Free

by Michael Gillan Peckitt February 19, 2025 Number of comments0
Barrier Free Disability Japan NHK Podcast toi-toi

New ‘Welfare’ NHK E TV Programme ‘toi-toi’ to Start in April 2025, Replacing ‘NHK Baribara’ [Podcast Episode]

NHK E will begin airing a ‘welfare’ TV Programme on NHK E called ‘toi-toi’ from April 2025.​ On January 7th 2025, it was announced on the official website that NHK Educational TV’s barrier-free variety show “Baribara” (broadcast on Thursdays 8pm) would end in March 2025. However, it promised a replacement in the TV schedule. According to the NHK E Website ‘toi-toi’ is a “new welfare program where everyone thinks about the “question” that a person has had deep in their heart. The protagonist who posed the “question” explores the “question” while talking to people with diverse perspectives. We will search for clues to realize a world where we accept differences and live together.” ‘toi-toi’ will be broadcast on NHK E on Thursdays at 8PM.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt February 4, 2025 Number of comments0
Barrier Free Disability Discrimination Employment Japan Welfare

Number of disabled people employed in Japan reaches record high, bias in work, criticism of “number-filling”

In the 2024 employment status of disabled people announced by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (as of June 1), the number of disabled people working in private companies has reached 677,461 (35,283 more than the previous year), the highest number ever for the 21st consecutive year. The actual employment rate also rose 0.08 points from the previous year to 2.41%, reaching a record high for the 13th consecutive year. However, only 46.0% of companies achieved the statutory employment rate (2.5%), a decrease of 4.1 points from the previous year.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt January 26, 2025 Number of comments0
Barrier Free Disability Japan Podcast

Support People with Disabilities by going to Mister Donut in Japan on January 27 [Podcast Episode]

January 27th, 1970 is the day that Duskin founder Suzuki Seiichi decided to enter into a business partnership with Mister Donut of America. Mister Donut designated this day as its founding day, and every year it donates a portion of purchases from customers to the ‘Duskin Ai No Wa Fund’ to help people with disabilities become independent and participate in society.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt January 26, 2025 1
Barrier Free Disability Japan

Mister Donut in Japan’s ‘Founder’s Day’ on January 27 Supporting People with Disabilities

January 27th, 1970 is the day that Duskin founder Suzuki Seiichi decided to enter into a business partnership with Mister Donut of America. Mister Donut designated this day as its founding day, and every year it donates a portion of purchases from customers to the ‘Duskin Ai No Wa Fund’ to help people with disabilities become independent and participate in society. Why not give back to society by buying a delicious donut on January 27th? 

by Michael Gillan Peckitt January 25, 2025 Number of comments0
Barrier Free Disability Employment Japan

Farm-welfare links for disabled employment expand in Japan

Agriculture-welfare partnerships, in which individuals with disabilities actively participate in farming activities, have been steadily gaining momentum in Japan following a government 2019 policy vision aimed at promoting such collaborations.
The number of such partnership initiatives launched by agricultural corporations and employment facilities has significantly grown, reaching about 7,100 by fiscal 2023, which ended in March last year. Such initiatives have not only welcomed disabled individuals, but also extended opportunities to former prison inmates and others in need of support.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt January 24, 2025 Number of comments0
Barrier Free Disability Employment Japan

41% of companies fail to meet legal employment rate for people with disabilities in Wakayama

As of June last year (2024), the employment rate of people with disabilities at companies in the prefecture was 2.78% on average, the highest ever, while 41% of the target companies did not meet the statutory employment rate set by the national government. The Wakayama Labor Bureau stated, “There are companies that do not fully understand or prepare for the system, and we would like to continue to support them.”

by Michael Gillan Peckitt January 22, 2025 Number of comments0
Barrier Free Deaf Hearing Impaired Japan

(Update) In Legal First, Court Awards ¥43 million ‘Lost Earning’ to Parents of Hearing Impaired Daughter

The court ordered the payment of about ¥43 million (around $227,000), equivalent to that of a nondisabled person, stating that there was “no reason to reduce the amount from the average of all workers” on lost earnings that the victim would have been able to earn in the future. The family had sought ¥61 million.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt January 10, 2025 1
Barrier Free Disability Japan Media NHK

NHK’s Disability TV Show “Baribara” to End in March after 15 years on Air [Podcast Episode]

On January 7th, it was announced on the official website that NHK Educational TV’s barrier-free variety show “Baribara” (broadcast on Thursdays 8pm) will end in March.
The production team of the show announced, “Baribara, which has been broadcast with the aim of eliminating ‘barriers’ for ‘all minorities who have difficulty living’, will end in March this year.”