Discrimination – Page 3 – Barrier Free Japan

by Michael Gillan Peckitt April 19, 2025 2

“ASD is a sloth, ADHD is a monkey, trauma disorder is a sheep” New Book by Japanese Counselor Classifying Neurodivergent People as Animals Sparks Controversy

A new book by the counselor Yuko Kanda that categorizes people suffering from conditions such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), ADHD, depression, and trauma disorders as animals — and portrays them as “troublesome people in the workplace” — is drawing strong backlash for promoting discriminatory views. The book claims to be packed with “techniques for winning without fighting.”

by Michael Gillan Peckitt March 5, 2025 1

Disability Discrimination Education Intellectual disabilities Japan

Intellectually Disabled Girl Has to Move from Chiba to Tokyo to Attend High School

In August 2024, Ms. Koyuki Hamano, 16, an intellectually disabled girl who was a resident of Chiba City, was rejected from the Chiba prefectural high school entrance examination, and asked the prefectural government to cancel her rejection, the Chiba District Court rejected her request to be provisionally obligated to enroll in the school. On February 4, Hamano’s parents held a press conference in the city and announced that they have given up on the idea of continuing her education in the prefecture, terminated the trial, and that she will enroll in a Tokyo metropolitan high school from April.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt February 4, 2025 0

Barrier Free Disability Discrimination Employment Japan Welfare

Number of disabled people employed in Japan reaches record high, bias in work, criticism of “number-filling”

In the 2024 employment status of disabled people announced by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (as of June 1), the number of disabled people working in private companies has reached 677,461 (35,283 more than the previous year), the highest number ever for the 21st consecutive year. The actual employment rate also rose 0.08 points from the previous year to 2.41%, reaching a record high for the 13th consecutive year. However, only 46.0% of companies achieved the statutory employment rate (2.5%), a decrease of 4.1 points from the previous year.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt February 4, 2025 0

Disability Discrimination Japan

‘My Physically Disabled Son’s Prospective In-Laws Oppose the Marriage’ [‘Dear Troubleshooter’, The Japan News]

My two older children are twins, and they both have physical disabilities. They both say they have never resented their bodies, although I believe they’ve gone through difficulties. One of the twins has been with his girlfriend for more than five years. She’s lovely and they’re talking about getting married soon. However, her parents are against the marriage. I think they’re worried about their daughter marrying a person who is severely disabled. Should I not say anything and leave it up to my son and his girlfriend? It’s difficult because I feel helpless as a parent.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt February 3, 2025 0

developmental disabilities Disability Discrimination Employment Japan Podcast

Chiba civil engineering company settles lawsuit over “insufficient understanding” of disability [Podcast Episode]

A lawsuit filed by a man in his 30s from Chiba Prefecture against his former civil engineering company in Abiko City, Chiba Prefecture for damages, alleging that he was discriminated against and forced to resign from the civil engineering company where he was employed as a disabled person through Hello Work because the company did not take his developmental disability into consideration, has been settled in the Chiba District Court. The former employer will pay the man approximately 300,000 yen in settlement money. According to the man’s attorney, the settlement was reached in October last year. The settlement terms stated that the former employer apologized to the man for not fully understanding the characteristics of his developmental disability and would pay him the settlement money.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt February 1, 2025 0

developmental disabilities Disability Discrimination Employment Japan

Chiba civil engineering company pays former employee settlement over “insufficient understanding of developmental disorders”

A lawsuit filed by a man in his 30s from Chiba Prefecture against his former civil engineering company in Abiko City, Chiba Prefecture for damages, alleging that he was discriminated against and forced to resign from the civil engineering company where he was employed as a disabled person through Hello Work because the company did not take his developmental disability into consideration, has been settled in the Chiba District Court. The former employer will pay the man approximately 300,000 yen in settlement money. According to the man’s attorney, the settlement was reached in October last year. The settlement terms stated that the former employer apologized to the man for not fully understanding the characteristics of his developmental disability and would pay him the settlement money.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt November 28, 2024 0

developmental disabilities Disability Discrimination Employment Japan

45 Year-old Prefectural Office Worker with Developmental Disabilities Talks About Being Bullied at Work: “I was told it was my fault”

Yamamoto Takafumi (pseudonym, 45 years old), who has ASD (autism spectrum disorder). Yamamoto works at a prefectural office, but communication at work is not going well, and when he disclosed his ASD to his superiors, he began to suffer power harassment every day, and is currently on leave due to adjustment disorder.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt November 12, 2024 0

Barrier Free Disability Discrimination Eugenics Japan Relationships

(Update) Disabled man denied entry to matchmaking party in Tokyo

A man who has experienced nightmare dates with women he met online believed that a Tokyo government-related matchmaking service would provide a safe and perhaps last opportunity to find love.
But the not-for-profit organization that arranged the matchmaking event rejected the man’s application to attend after learning about his minor intellectual disability. The organizer said in a notice that participants are “limited to mentally and physically healthy people.” The Bureau of Citizens, Culture and Sport found fault with the way the organization treated the man after learning about his disability, and it temporarily suspended the organization’s event announcements on the website.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt October 22, 2024 1

Disability Discrimination Eugenics Japan

Man with Intellectual Disability Refused Participation in Tokyo Matchmaking Event, Told “only people who are healthy in body and mind are eligible to participate”

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government has taken issue with the response of the organizing group regarding the participation of a man with a mild intellectual disability at a matchmaking party posted on the Tokyo Metropolitan Government’s website. The man was refused participation immediately after declaring his disability. The Tokyo Metropolitan Government has asked the organizers to “take sincere action,” and the group has expressed its intention to improve.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt October 9, 2024 1

Disability Discrimination Forced Sterilization Japan

Japan’s Diet Passes Forced Sterilization Compensation Bill

The Diet enacted the Forced Sterilization Compensation Bill into law on Tuesday. The compensation law will take effect three months after its promulgation. While a similar law enacted in 2019 did not explicitly mention the state’s apology in its preamble, the compensation law states that the Diet and the government seriously acknowledge their responsibility and sincerely apologize for creating and implementing an unconstitutional law.