Category: Disability

by Michael Gillan Peckitt September 18, 2024 Number of comments0
Disability Employment Japan Robotics

New ‘ultra-short-time employment’ experiment for people with disabilities using avatar robots to be conducted in Tokyo’s Toshima Ward

Toshima Ward will conduct an experiment on a new employment model for people with disabilities at the Sunshine City complex (Higashi-Ikebukuro). For the month of November, people with mental and intellectual disabilities will work short hours, and people who have difficulty going out will serve customers using avatar robots. An agreement was signed with the company on the 6th of this month for the experiment. In the experiment, about 10 ward residents with disabilities will practice the employment model at Sunshine City’s reception desk, aquarium, and observation deck. They will not be paid, but participants will receive a subsidy from the ward.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt September 18, 2024 Number of comments0
Disability Film Japan Mark Bookman

Documentary film ‘Mark: A Call To Action’ to be released on DVD on October 8th 2024 [Podcast Episode]

Mark Bookman was a historian, whose specialism was disability policy and related social movements in Japanese and global contexts. He studied Japanese Studies at University of Pennsylvania, and at the time of his death on December 16th 2022 he was Postdoctoral Fellow at The University of Tokyo. The documentary film ‘Mark: A Call To Action’, directed by Ron Small about Mark, will be released on DVD on October 8th 2024:

by Michael Gillan Peckitt September 17, 2024 Number of comments0
2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake Disability Disasters Discrimination Japan

Annual ‘Miyagi Appeal Action’ Held in Sendai to Raise Awareness About Issues Facing People with Disabilities 

he “Miyagi Appeal Action” rally was held in Sendai City on the 16th to raise awareness of the discrimination and difficulties facing people with disabilities. This is held annually by an executive committee made up of over 40 disability groups in Miyagi Prefecture. This year, in response to the Noto Peninsula earthquake, the theme was “Disability and Disaster Prevention,” and an appeal was adopted calling on the government to develop disaster prevention and evacuation plans that reflect the perspectives of people with disabilities.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt September 16, 2024 Number of comments0
Disability Forced Sterilization Japan Podcast

‘All’ forced sterilization lawsuits settled; plaintiffs and Japanese government sign agreement [Podcast Episode]

On September 13th, the plaintiffs and the government signed a settlement agreement in a lawsuit over forced sterilization under the old Eugenic Protection Law. Final adjustments were being made on the government’s payment of 15 million yen in compensation to any individual who underwent the surgery. Lawsuits currently underway in various regions have been gradually entering settlement procedures, and the settlement will take place about six years and seven months after the first lawsuit was filed in 2018.

The agreement covers 19 plaintiffs of pending lawsuits across the country.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt September 13, 2024 1
Disability Forced Sterilization Japan

All forced sterilization lawsuits settled; plaintiffs and Japanese government sign agreement

On September 13th, the plaintiffs and the government signed a settlement agreement in a lawsuit over forced sterilization under the old Eugenic Protection Law. Final adjustments were being made on the government’s payment of 15 million yen in compensation to any individual who underwent the surgery. Lawsuits currently underway in various regions have been gradually entering settlement procedures, and the settlement will take place about six years and seven months after the first lawsuit was filed in 2018.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt September 9, 2024 Number of comments0
Abuse Disability Employment Japan Podcast Work

761 people with disabilities in Japan suffered abuse at work last year [Podcast Episode]

A survey by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare found that 761 people with disabilities suffered abuse at work, such as unpaid wages and verbal abuse, last year, an increase of 105 from the previous year. This is thought to be due to the recovery of economic activity from COVID-19, which has increased employment opportunities for people with disabilities.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt September 8, 2024 Number of comments0
2024 Paris Summer Paralympics Disability Japan Para Sports Paralympics Sports

Japan’s Oda Wins Gold in Paralympic Wheelchair Tennis

Japan’s Tokito Oda won gold in men’s wheelchair tennis singles at the Paris Paralympics on Saturday. 

Oda, 18, defended the title that Japan’s Shingo Kunieda clinched in the previous Paralympics in Tokyo in 2021.

The victory by Oda brought Japan three gold medals and one silver medal in wheelchair tennis at the Paris Games.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt September 8, 2024 1
Abuse Disability Employment Japan Work

761 people with disabilities in Japan suffered abuse at work last year, 105 more than the previous year

A survey by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare found that 761 people with disabilities suffered abuse at work, such as unpaid wages and verbal abuse, last year, an increase of 105 from the previous year. This is thought to be due to the recovery of economic activity from COVID-19, which has increased employment opportunities for people with disabilities.