Care – Page 3 – Barrier Free Japan

by Michael Gillan Peckitt March 3, 2026 1

Kitakyushu to Revoke Designation of Disability Support Facility Over Fraudulent Benefit Claims

Kitakyushu City said it will revoke the designation of a Type B continuous employment support facility for people with disabilities in Yahatanishi Ward after its operator, based in Nakama, Fukuoka Prefecture, was found to have fraudulently claimed public support funds. According to the city, the company falsely reported that a full-time instructor was employed to improve participants’ wages in order to receive additional staffing payments between May and September last year, and also inflated attendance records for a user approved for services by another municipality, billing for more days than were actually attended. The revocation, under the Comprehensive Support for Persons with Disabilities Act, will take effect on March 31.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt March 3, 2026 0

Care Disability Japan Podcast

Saitama Social Worker Reports Company for Overcharging Disabled Residents, is Sued for Stealing Documents [Podcast Episode]

Tomoyoshi Aoki, a 51-year-old certified social worker from Saitama Prefecture, says he discovered that his former employer, ‘Nihon Remake’, which operates more than 10 group homes for people with disabilities in Saitama City, was overcharging residents for meal and other expenses and improperly claiming public reimbursements. After clashing with the company over how to address the issues, Aoki filed a whistleblower report with the prefectural government before resigning in late 2024. The prefecture later instructed the company to refund excess charges and return improperly received payments. In April 2025, however, the company sued Aoki at the Saitama District Court for about 41.3 million yen in damages, alleging he took accounting documents without authorization and disrupted operations. The case remains ongoing.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt March 2, 2026 1

Care Crime Disability Group Homes (GH) Japan

Saitama Social Worker Reports Company for Overcharging Disabled Residents, is Sued for Stealing Documents

Tomoyoshi Aoki, a 51-year-old certified social worker from Saitama Prefecture, says he discovered that his former employer, Nihon Remake, which operates more than 10 group homes for people with disabilities in Saitama City, was overcharging residents for meal and other expenses and improperly claiming public reimbursements. After clashing with the company over how to address the issues, Aoki filed a whistleblower report with the prefectural government before resigning in late 2024. The prefecture later instructed the company to refund excess charges and return improperly received payments. In April 2025, however, the company sued Aoki at the Saitama District Court for about 41.3 million yen in damages, alleging he took accounting documents without authorization and disrupted operations. The case remains ongoing.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt March 2, 2026 0

Abuse Care Disability Japan Podcast Sexual abuse

Western Japan Disability Nurses have Difficulties but “no regrets” in Reporting “culture” of Abuse [Podcast Episode]

Three nurses, including Ryusuke Asakura, a 50-year-old former staff member at a municipal support center for people with severe disabilities in Sakai, Osaka Prefecture, filed a lawsuit in 2024 alleging they were retaliated against for reporting abuse of residents. The trio say they alerted authorities in 2019 after their concerns were ignored internally, leading the city to acknowledge multiple cases of abuse, but claim they were subsequently subjected to lengthy home suspensions, dismissal and job transfers by the facility’s operator, prompting their legal action.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt February 27, 2026 1

Abuse Care Disability J-Pop

Western Japan Disability Nurses have Difficulties but “no regrets” in Reporting “culture” of Abuse

Three nurses, including Ryusuke Asakura, a 50-year-old former staff member at a municipal support center for people with severe disabilities in Sakai, Osaka Prefecture, filed a lawsuit in 2024 alleging they were retaliated against for reporting abuse of residents. The trio say they alerted authorities in 2019 after their concerns were ignored internally, leading the city to acknowledge multiple cases of abuse, but claim they were subsequently subjected to lengthy home suspensions, dismissal and job transfers by the facility’s operator, prompting their legal action.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt February 27, 2026 0

Abuse Care Disability Japan Podcast Sexual abuse

Ibaraki Care Worker Who Reported Abuse Warns Legal Battle May Deter Future Whistleblowers [Podcast Episode]

A care worker who reported the sexual abuse of a female resident at a disability group home in Ibaraki Prefecture has warned that the toll of his subsequent court battle could discourage others from coming forward. Yusuke Okanemasa, 47, reported the alleged abuse in 2021, which prefectural authorities later confirmed, but he became embroiled in a dispute with his employer and eventually resigned after a pay cut. Okanemasa said the lawsuit cost him about 1.5 million yen and required “an enormous amount of mental and emotional energy, as well as time,” warning that if such consequences follow abuse reports, “people will think it’s better to keep their mouths shut,” leaving victims unprotected and underscoring the need for stricter official action.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt February 26, 2026 1

Abuse Care Crime Disability Japan Sexual abuse

Ibaraki Care Worker Who Reported Abuse Warns Legal Battle May Deter Future Whistleblowers

A care worker who reported the sexual abuse of a female resident at a disability group home in Ibaraki Prefecture has warned that the toll of his subsequent court battle could discourage others from coming forward. Yusuke Okanemasa, 47, reported the alleged abuse in 2021, which prefectural authorities later confirmed, but he became embroiled in a dispute with his employer and eventually resigned after a pay cut. Although the Tokyo High Court in July 2025 ruled the pay cut invalid and ordered limited damages, it did not recognize the measure as retaliation for whistleblowing. Okanemasa said the lawsuit cost him about 1.5 million yen and required “an enormous amount of mental and emotional energy, as well as time,” warning that if such consequences follow abuse reports, “people will think it’s better to keep their mouths shut,” leaving victims unprotected and underscoring the need for stricter official action.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt February 25, 2026 0

Abuse Care Crime Disability Japan Podcast Sexual abuse

Fired After Reporting Abuse, Tokyo Care Worker Awarded 4.8 Million Yen [Podcast Episode]

A former support staff member at a disability workshop in Kodaira, Tokyo, who was dismissed after reporting alleged abuse by colleagues and a senior executive, reached a court-mediated settlement in 2024 with the operating social welfare corporation. The staff member had filed suit at the Tokyo District Court, arguing the dismissal was retaliation for whistleblowing in violation of the Whistleblower Protection Act. Under the settlement, the corporation retracted the dismissal and paid 4.8 million yen. Municipal authorities later recognized abuse by around 10 staff members, and the Tokyo metropolitan government issued administrative guidance to the corporation over excessive welfare payments.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt February 24, 2026 1

Abuse Care Crime Disability Japan

Fired After Reporting Abuse, Care Worker Awarded 4.8 Million Yen

A former support staff member at a disability workshop in Kodaira, Tokyo, who was dismissed after reporting alleged abuse by colleagues and a senior executive, reached a court-mediated settlement in 2024 with the operating social welfare corporation. The staff member had filed suit at the Tokyo District Court, arguing the dismissal was retaliation for whistleblowing in violation of the Whistleblower Protection Act. Under the settlement, the corporation retracted the dismissal and paid 4.8 million yen. Municipal authorities later recognized abuse by around 10 staff members, and the Tokyo metropolitan government issued administrative guidance to the corporation over excessive welfare payments.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt February 24, 2026 0

Abuse Care Crime Disability Intellectual disabilities Japan Podcast Sexual abuse

Tokyo Disability Facility Worker Says They Were Fired After Reporting Abuse [Podcast Episode]

A Tokyo care worker who worked as a support staff member at a workshop for people with disabilities said she witnessed repeated physical and verbal abuse of service users by colleagues shortly after starting her job in 2019. The alleged misconduct extended beyond frontline staff to a male executive of the operating social welfare corporation, who she said repeatedly grabbed the groins of male users with intellectual disabilities when they did not comply with instructions, Identified by a pseudonym as Yoshimi Kurita, said they reported the abuse multiple times to the corporation’s executives, but the corporation“turned a blind eye.”