Category: Disability

by Michael Gillan Peckitt November 1, 2023 1
Disability Eugenics Forced Sterilization Japan

Japan’s Supreme Court Grand Bench to Rule on Forced Sterilization Damages

The Japanese Supreme Court’s First Petty Bench decided Wednesday to have the top court’s Grand Bench issue a unified ruling on five damages lawsuits filed by forced sterilization victims under the now-defunct eugenic protection law. 

The Grand Bench, presided over by Chief Justice Saburo Tokura, is expected to hand down such a ruling next year on the suits, with the top court’s judgment on whether the 20-year statute of limitation for damages claims applies in the cases a focal point.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt November 1, 2023 Number of comments0
Disability Japan My Number Welfare

Gunma Prefecture Reports Twelve Errors were Made Linking ‘Disability Certificates’ to ‘My Number’ Cards

During the inspection of the My Number system, Gunma Prefecture announced on October 31 that it had confirmed 12 cases of errors in linking disability certificates to the system. The names and identification numbers of two different people with disabilities were linked to a single number, and the names and identification numbers of the different people could be viewed on “MyNa Portal,” a website for people who have obtained a MyNumber card.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt October 30, 2023 1
Crime Disability Japan Prison Welfare

First Prison in Japan to House Only Young Inmates with Developmental and Other Disabilities Opens

The first prison in the country to house only young inmates with physical disabilities or intellectual disabilities, with an emphasis on supporting their reintegration into society, was established in Ichihara City, Chiba Prefecture.

The ‘Ichihara Youth Correctional Center’ is a newly established facility that was a juvenile detention center until April of this year.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt October 27, 2023 Number of comments0
Barrier Free Disability Japan Travel

Petition to Remove ‘Caregiver Accompanying’ Requirement for Disabled Discount on Railways in Japan Submitted with Over 30,000 Signatures

Disability rights groups in Japan have been petitioning for better access to the country’s rail system, specifically demanding improvements to the current system that prevents disabled people from receiving discounts when riding alone on trains if the distance is less than 100 kilometers.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt October 26, 2023 Number of comments0
Crime Disability Japan Megumi Corporation Welfare

Japan National Government Audits Welfare Corporation, Cracks Down on Fraud at Disability Facilities

A company operating a group home in Minato Ward, Tokyo, is being audited by the national government and local governments for allegedly overcharging users of the home for food. The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare has notified Aichi Prefecture and other relevant local governments to confirm whether the company has been improperly billing local governments for disability welfare services.