With the Deaflympics set to open in Tokyo on Saturday, Narita airport near the Japanese capital is seeking to ensure accessibility for the deaf and hearing-impaired, counting on easily recognizable “pictogram” signage and written communication.
The Hikone branch of the Otsu District Public Prosecutors Office announced on the 10th that it has decided not to indict a 70-year-old male care worker from Hikone City, Shiga Prefecture. The man had been arrested on suspicion of preparation for murder and violation of the Firearms and Swords Control Act after allegedly hiding a kitchen knife at the welfare facility for people with disabilities in Higashiomi City, Shiga Prefecture, where he worked, with the intent to kill a 44-year-old resident. The prosecutors did not disclose the reason for their decision.
The Tokyo metropolitan government is making final preparations to host the Deaflympics, known as the Olympics for people with hearing difficulties, from Saturday, such as conducting sign language lessons for its staff. It aims to facilitate the management of the Deaflympics, in which some 3,000 athletes from over 70 countries and regions are slated to compete, by promoting understanding about people with hearing impairments through the lessons. The upcoming Deaflympics will be the first to be held in Japan.
Princess Kako, the second daughter of Prince Akishino and Princess Kiko, attended a ceremony in Tokyo’s Ota Ward on Saturday marking the 70th anniversary of the National Federation of Associations for the Welfare of the Mentally Disabled, a group made up of families and supporters of people with intellectual disabilities. Around 2,000 people took part in the event, where Princess Kako expressed her “heartfelt respect” for the attendees and said she hopes understanding of intellectual disabilities will continue to deepen so that “everyone can live with peace of mind.”
A welfare-related company based in Osaka City is suspected of having improperly received tens of billions of yen in disability employment support subsidies (payments) since fiscal 2024, city officials revealed on November 5. The company allegedly exploited a system that increases subsidy amounts based on the number of disabled workers who find employment in regular companies. Osaka City has launched an audit under the Comprehensive Support for Persons with Disabilities Act and is considering demanding repayment.
The Niigata prefectural government said Sunday that an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza has been confirmed at a poultry farm in the city of Tainai. This is the fourth outbreak of avian influenza at a poultry farm in Japan this season and the second confirmed case in Niigata.
The Japan Meteorological Agency issued a tsunami advisory for the Pacific coast of Iwate Prefecture in the Tohoku northeastern region following an earthquake with an estimated magnitude of 6.7 on Sunday afternoon.
“I will definitely take the gold,” Aoyama said ahead of the Deaflympics that will run from Nov. 15 to 26. The marathon event is scheduled for Nov. 25.
A woman with a mild intellectual disability who worked at a welfare workshop in Tokyo has accused the facility’s director of sexually assaulting her, including forcing her to strip naked and touching her genitals. The case highlights the difficulty of preventing abuse of people with disabilities, who may struggle to recognize what happened as assault or to be believed when they speak up.
A welfare-related company based in Osaka City is suspected of having improperly received tens of billions of yen in disability employment support subsidies (payments) since fiscal 2024, city officials revealed on November 5. The company allegedly exploited a system that increases subsidy amounts based on the number of disabled workers who find employment in regular companies. Osaka City has launched an audit under the Comprehensive Support for Persons with Disabilities Act and is considering demanding repayment.
Barrier Free Japan