Category: Elderly

by Michael Gillan Peckitt October 15, 2025 1
Crime Disability Elderly Japan

(Update) 2 Women Found Bleeding at Saitama Elderly Care Facility Die, Former Employee Arrested

Two female residents of an elderly care facility in Tsurugashima in Saitama Prefecture, north of Tokyo, were confirmed dead Wednesday morning, hours after they were found bleeding and unconscious there. At around 4:55 a.m., an emergency call from the facility reported the two women lying injured. They were taken to a hospital, where they were pronounced dead. Investigating the case as a possible murder, the Saitama prefectural police department apprehended a former facility employee in his 20s on Wednesday morning.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt October 11, 2025 1
Dementia Disability Elderly Japan

75 Percent Unaware of Dementia Basic Law Enactment According to Japan Government Survey

A Japanese government survey showed Friday that 75.8 pct of the respondents are unaware of the enactment of the country’s basic law on dementia. The result of the public opinion survey by the Cabinet Office revealed that public awareness in Japan remains low even more than a year and a half after the law’s enforcement in January 2024. Of the respondents, 16.4 pct said they are aware of the law’s enactment but do not know its content, while 4.5 pct and 1.0 pct said they know its content “to some extent” and “in detail,” respectively.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt October 6, 2025 1
Elderly Housing Japan

Japan’s Empty Homes Targeted for Subsidy Program, as Rise in Elderly Households Threatens Wave of Vacancies

A model project is set to launch next fiscal year that will provide subsidies to keep homes from sitting vacant, it has been learned. This will be run by the Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Ministry. The project will target residential areas in major cities and neighboring areas and transform properties — including those about to be vacated by elderly people — into residences and community facilities suitable for families with children. The number of neglected vacant homes is increasing year by year, according to the Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry. In 2023, a record high 3.85 million units fell into this category.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt September 15, 2025 Number of comments0
Birth Rate Elderly Japan

Japan’s Elderly Population Down at 36.19 Million

The estimated number of people aged 65 or older in Japan stands at 36.19 million as of Monday, falling by 50,000 from a year before, the internal affairs ministry said Sunday. The estimate, released ahead of Respect for the Aged Day on Monday, a national holiday, decreased for the first time in two years but accounted for record 29.4 pct of the country’s total population, up by 0.1 percentage point. According to the ministry, the decrease of the elderly population is attributed to factors such as the number of deaths among those aged 65 or over exceeding the number of people newly reaching 65.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt September 1, 2025 Number of comments0
Disability Discrimination Elderly Hearing Impaired Japan Podcast

Japan Post Apologizes After Delivery Contractor Writes Discriminatory Note to Hearing Impaired Customer [Podcast Episode]

Japan Post announced that a contractor employee at the Nagasaki Central Post Office was dismissed after writing a discriminatory remark on a delivery notice left for an elderly customer with hearing difficulties. The incident occurred on July 29 and came to light two days later when the customer reported it. Japan Post staff visited the customer to apologize directly. The company stated there was no prior trouble between the two and pledged to strengthen human rights awareness to prevent a recurrence.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt August 31, 2025 1
Disability Discrimination Elderly Hearing Impaired Japan

Japan Post Apologizes After Delivery Contractor Writes Discriminatory Note to Hearing Impaired Customer

Japan Post announced that a contractor employee at the Nagasaki Central Post Office was dismissed after writing a discriminatory remark on a delivery notice left for an elderly customer with hearing difficulties. The incident occurred on July 29 and came to light two days later when the customer reported it. Japan Post staff visited the customer to apologize directly. The company stated there was no prior trouble between the two and pledged to strengthen human rights awareness to prevent a recurrence.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt August 26, 2025 Number of comments0
Elderly Mobility Travel Wheelchair

Daihatsu Launches New Electric Wheelchair for Elderly People

Daihatsu Motor Co. put a new electric wheelchair for the elderly on sale on Monday.

The e-Sneaker has already been used on a trial basis at the ongoing World Exposition in the western Japan city of Osaka. The wheelchair runs at a maximum speed of 6 kilometers per hour and travels 12 kilometers on a single charge. No driver’s license is required to operate the vehicle.