Category: Care

by Michael Gillan Peckitt June 22, 2023 1
Care Disability Eugenics Forced Sterilization Hokkaido Japan

Disabled Resident of Hokkaido Care Facility “felt coerced” into being Sterilized

On June 21, an interview with the Hokkaido prefectural government revealed that a person with a mental disability who wished to get married or live together at a group home run by Asunaro Fukushikai, a social welfare corporation in Esashi, Hokkaido (Hidetoshi Higuchi, president), stated that he “felt as if he was forced to do so” when asked by the prefectural government about the sterilization procedures being performed on him.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt June 18, 2023 Number of comments0
Birth Rate Care Children Japan

Mothers denied postpartum care in 14% of Japan municipalities: survey

About 14.4 percent of municipalities in Japan had cases in which mothers were denied care after giving birth, a survey recently showed, underscoring the country’s need to address the issue as it tries to reverse its declining birthrate.

The rate of rejection for reasons including a shortage of care facilities was even higher in municipalities with a population of 200,000 or more at 43.0 percent, according to the survey commissioned by the government and conducted last fall by Nomura Research Institute.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt May 12, 2023 Number of comments0
Abuse Care Children Japan

914 Cases of Inappropriate Care Found at Nurseries in Japan

Japan has confirmed 914 cases of inappropriate child care, including 90 cases of abuse, at nursery schools across the country between April and December 2022, a survey by the Children and Families Agency showed Friday. Of the 90 abuse cases, there were 36 cases of physical abuse, 42 cases of mental abuse, 20 cases of sexual abuse and four neglect cases. They include cases involving two or more abuse types.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt March 30, 2023 Number of comments0
Abuse Care Disability Hokkaido Japan Podcast

Disability News Japan Podcast: Five Former Staff Members of Hokkaido Care Facility for Disabled Charged with Assault

Six former employees of ‘Seiryu no Sato’, a support facility for persons with disabilities in Nishi-okobe village, were sent to prosecution on suspicion of assault for repeatedly abusing residents last year, including unnecessarily pressing down on them.

The Monbetsu District Public Prosecutor’s Office summarily charged five of them with assault on 29 March.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt March 29, 2023 1
Abuse Care Disability Hokkaido Japan

Five former staff members of Hokkaido support facility for people with disabilities charged with assault

Six former employees of ‘Seiryu no Sato’, a support facility for persons with disabilities in Nishi-okobe village, were sent to prosecution on suspicion of assault for repeatedly abusing residents last year, including unnecessarily pressing down on them.

The Monbetsu District Public Prosecutor’s Office summarily charged five of them with assault on 29 March.

On the other hand, one former employee was not prosecuted.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt March 25, 2023 Number of comments0
Abuse Care Disability Japan

Japan Logs Record 3,085 Abuse Cases against People with Disabilities in Fiscal Year 2021

The number of abuse cases against people with disabilities confirmed by local governments in Japan in fiscal 2021 rose by 284 from the preceding year to a record 3,085, according to the welfare ministry. 

The growth reflected rises in related consultations and reports on the back of increased public awareness about the law on preventing abuse against disabled people, which requires those finding such abuse cases to report to local governments.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt March 24, 2023 Number of comments0
Abuse Care Disability Japan

2,960 People with Disabilities in Japan Abused at Home or in Institutions in Fiscal Year 2021, Highest Number on Record

In fiscal year 2021, a total of 2,960 persons with disabilities who were abused at home or in institutions were identified by local authorities across Japan (up 295 from the previous year). This is the highest number since FY12, when the survey began. The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) announced the figures on 24th March.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt February 21, 2023 Number of comments0
Abuse Care Disability Hokkaido Japan

Former staff member at a facility for the disabled in Hokkaido arrested on suspicion of assault

A 28-year-old former employee of a support facility for people with disabilities in Wakkanai was arrested on suspicion of assault at the facility for deliberately putting their foot on a resident and causing the resident to fall over. The police are investigating in detail whether the abuse was a regular occurrence.