“Japan’s Disability Shame: Soon after the end of the Second World War, the Japanese government began a program of forced sterilisation of its disabled population in an attempt to manage the country’s repopulation efforts. From there, a longstanding and pernicious stigma endured to the present day, where the disabled are openly shunned in society, and treated as a shameful taboo.”
“More than 40 percent of Japan’s major publishing companies do not provide the electronic data for their books and magazines, which would make it easier to convert into Braille or audio for readers with visual impairments, a Mainichi Shimbun survey has found.”
“[A]ttention may have been attracted by the pathetic yet manly sight of a young non-commissioned officer in the white uniform of an army patient, handling the plane and operating the rudder bar with his artificial limb. The young soldier is Sgt. Maj. Mitsumasa Seo, who, though minus one leg, is awaiting the day when he may again resume his service with the Army Air Corps, reports the Asahi.”
“Chieko Saito, a former nursery teacher with no prior farming experience established “Okayama Ohisama (Sun) Farm” in May 2017, hoping to promote social integration of people with disabilities by providing them with jobs growing bananas.”
“Brief extracts from when the Sagamihara killings suspect was interviewed at the Yokohama Detention Center on December 28th 2018”
“A draft of the bill to revise the Employment Promotion Act for Persons with Disabilities submitted to the ordinary Diet session next year by the government will be announced on Thursday 3rd 2019 January, to deal with the problem in increasing the employment of persons with disabilities such as central ministries.”
“The number of prenatal tests conducted in Japan to check for serious health issues with the fetus has jumped 2.4 times over a 10-year period from 2006 to 2016, according to an estimate by researchers at the National Center for Child Health and Development and other institutions.”
“Japan’s welfare ministry said Tuesday that the number of disabled employees stood below the standard required by law at 35 of the 43 state institutes as of June 1 this year.”
Plaintiffs are acting names of both Mr. Takaji Kobayashi (86) and Ms. Kimiko (86) in Akashi-shi, Aichi Prefecture, and Tatsuo Takao and Mrs. Namie in their 70s living in the prefecture. In September this year, two pairs have filed a lawsuit as the deaf blockers for the first time.
In the court of the day, Mr. Takaru appealed in sign language that “My dream of giving birth to a child was cut off, I regretted my teeth had been feeling frustrated.”
According to the complaint, Mr. and Mrs. Kobayashi were aborted and sterilized without explanation immediately after marriage for 60 years. Mr. and Mrs. Takao were infertile surgery without explanation just before marriage in 1968.
The plaintiffs allege that the Constitution guaranteed by the old law infringed the right to pursue happiness and reproductive rights (sexual and reproductive rights).
Over the old law, a total of 15 people have filed suit in six nationwide districts so far. Discrimination has already begun in Tokyo, Sendai, Osaka etc.
“n a summary released by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, the number of persons with disabilities who were abused in families and workplaces, etc., was the highest it’s ever been, with 3,500 people abused nationwide last year.
Barrier Free Japan