Category: Discrimination

by Michael Gillan Peckitt May 8, 2026 Number of comments0
Disability Discrimination Employment Japan Welfare

Disabled workers in Japan left “with no work assigned and abandoned”, companies outsource employment management to contractors

It has been learned that there have been repeated cases in which disabled people directly employed by companies through intermediaries operating disability employment businesses were given virtually no actual work while working remotely, and were effectively left abandoned, doing little more than exchanging simple chat messages with the intermediary company. The cases reveal a structure in which companies seeking to meet the legally mandated employment quota for disabled workers (currently 2.5% of employees) hired disabled people only in form while paying salaries, then completely outsourced employment management to outside contractors.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt April 27, 2026 Number of comments0
Disability Discrimination Japan Podcast Travel Unmanned Stations

Oita District Court Rejects Disabled People’s Claim over Unmanned Stations, Citing “Excessive Burden” on JR Kyushu [Podcast Episode]

A district court in southwestern Japan on Thursday 23rd April dismissed a damages claim by people with disabilities who said that the unmanned operations of stations by Kyushu Railway Co., or JR Kyushu, violated their freedom of movement. “It cannot be acknowledged that there was unfair and discriminatory treatment” on the grounds of disability in operating stations without staff, Oita District Court Presiding Judge Mina Tomita said, rejecting the claim for damages totaling 660,000 yen against JR Kyushu.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt April 25, 2026 Number of comments0
Disability Discrimination Japan Travel Unmanned Stations

Oita Court Rejects Disabled People’s Freedom of Movement Claim, Cites ‘Excessive Burden’ on JR Kyushu

The Oita District Court dismissed a lawsuit by six people with disabilities who claimed that JR Kyushu’s use of unmanned stations infringed their freedom of movement, with Presiding Judge Mina Tomita ruling that “It cannot be acknowledged that there was unfair and discriminatory treatment” and concluding that while requiring advance notice for assistance “cause[s] a difference in the use of stations,” the policy was not illegal. She added that, given factors such as population decline, operating stations without staff “was unavoidable” and that maintaining staffing would impose an “excessive burden” on the company. In response, plaintiffs’ lawyer Yasuyuki Tokuda condemned the decision as an unjust ruling and said the legal team would continue to fight the case.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt April 24, 2026 2
Disability Discrimination Japan Travel Unmanned Stations

Oita Court Rejects Disabled People’s Claim over Unmanned Stations

A district court in southwestern Japan on Thursday dismissed a damages claim by people with disabilities who said that the unmanned operations of stations by Kyushu Railway Co., or JR Kyushu, violated their freedom of movement. “It cannot be acknowledged that there was unfair and discriminatory treatment” on the grounds of disability in operating stations without staff, Oita District Court Presiding Judge Mina Tomita said, rejecting the claim for damages totaling 660,000 yen against JR Kyushu.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt April 9, 2026 1
developmental disabilities Disability Discrimination Employment

60% of Workers in Japan with Mental or Developmental Disabilities Do Not Disclose Disability

When an advocacy group for people with mental and developmental disabilities conducted a survey on employment, over 60% of respondents reported having experience with “closed employment” – working without disclosing their disability. Many cited the reason for non-disclosure as “feeling that it would lead to employment disadvantages such as dismissal or contract non-renewal.”

by Michael Gillan Peckitt April 3, 2026 Number of comments0
Autism Disability Discrimination Employment Japan Podcast

“We’d like you to resign”: Worker in Japan fired 4 days after revealing autism [Podcast Episode]

“We’d like you to resign.” Hearing those words, Yamakawa (a pseudonym) was shocked. They never expected such a drastic change in their employer’s attitude. The incident that came to mind had happened just four days earlier. Yamakawa had revealed to the head of the company, where they had been working for three years, that they had ASD.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt March 24, 2026 Number of comments0
Barrier Free Disability Discrimination Housing Japan Podcast

People with disabilities in Japan face persistent barriers to housing, accommodation [Podcast Episode]

People with disabilities in Japan continue to face significant barriers in securing housing and accommodation, with multiple recent cases highlighting concerns over discrimination, limited legal enforcement, and a lack of understanding among property owners and service providers.