The health ministry announced plans Thursday to revise regulations to allow over-the-counter (OTC) drugs to be picked up at convenience stores without the presence of pharmacists or registered salespersons. Customers will be required to receive explanations about the medication online from a pharmacist or registered salesperson before making a purchase.
Japanese Princess Kako, the second daughter of Crown Prince Akishino and Crown Princess Kiko, turned 30 on Sunday. As an adult member of the Imperial Family, Princess Kako has performed various official duties at home and abroad this year, while working twice a week since April at the Japanese Federation of the Deaf, which she joined as a part-time employee in 2021.
Influenza is on the rise across Japan, with weekly case counts increasing in all 47 prefectures. The National Institute of Infectious Diseases and other organizations say about 5,000 hospitals and clinics across the country reported seeing 211,049 flu patients in the seven-day period up to December 22.
In fiscal year 2023, the number of cases in which elderly individuals were abused by staff at care facilities increased by 31.2% compared to the previous year, reaching 1,123 cases, according to a survey by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare released on the 27th. This marks the third consecutive year of record-high figures and the first time the number has exceeded 1,000 since the survey began in fiscal year 2007.
Hong Kong-based activist investor Oasis Management Co. has increased its equity stake in Japan’s Kobayashi Pharmaceutical Co., rocked by a high-profile health hazard scandal over its supplements containing “beni koji” red fermented rice, according to a share transaction report.
Last year, 4,641 people with disabilities were abused by family members or staff at welfare facilities for the disabled, the highest number ever. According to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, last year, there were 3,477 cases of abuse of people with disabilities in local governments nationwide, and 4,641 people were abused, both of which are the highest numbers since statistics began being collected in 2012.
Japanese Princess Aiko has been diagnosed with influenza, the Imperial Household Agency said Monday. The 23-year-old princess, the only child of Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako, canceled her planned participation in an event to celebrate the 91st birthday of Emperor Emeritus Akihito, held at his residence in Tokyo’s Minato Ward the same day.
According to the Tokyo Labor Bureau of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, as of June 1st of this year, the Tokyo Metropolitan Board of Education had 985.5 disabled people employed, which is calculated by counting the number of disabled people per person depending on the degree of disability and working hours, and the actual employment rate was 1.95%. This is below the legal employment rate of 2.7% based on the Disabled Persons Employment Promotion Act, and the national government has requested the Board of Education to increase employment of disabled people, including by providing guidance.
The number of office closures will be at least 16 in total in six prefectures, and the number of disabled people fired or retired is expected to reach about 300. This is an unusual scale for a single business operator, and in some cases, users have rebelled against the sudden closures. The company in question is “MOON” in Tokai City, Aichi Prefecture.
On December 21st, the Miyazaki Higher Brain Dysfunction Disorder Family Association Akari (Chairman Tobita Hiroshi), made up of families of people with higher brain dysfunction in Miyazaki Prefecture, held its first street campaign promoting the wearing of bicycle helmets at an intersection in front of a department store in Miyazaki City.
Barrier Free Japan