Group Homes (GH) – Barrier Free Japan

by Michael Gillan Peckitt December 10, 2025 0

“I Don’t Want to End My Life Here”: Half of the Disabled People Living in Facilities Sent Outside Tokyo

Aikawa Shinseien, a remote facility in Akita Prefecture housing nearly 90 intellectually disabled people sent from Tokyo, illustrates the long-standing practice of placing disabled residents far from their home communities due to Tokyo’s high land prices and neighborhood resistance to disability facilities, with some locals claiming such facilities would “damage the image” of the area. Many residents have lived there for decades, seldom see their families, and feel trapped—one 65-year-old man, who has lived there since the facility opened, says poignantly, “I don’t want to end my life here.” As parents age and die and “out-of-Tokyo facilities” continue to fill in replacements, some question what a truly inclusive living environment for disabled people should look like.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt November 18, 2025 0

Barrier Free Care Children Disability Group Homes (GH) Japan

90% of Families of People with Disabilities in Japan “Worried” About Life After Parents’ Death

A recent survey by a private organization has revealed widespread anxiety among families of adults with disabilities in Japan, with 90.2% expressing worry about their loved one’s life after the parents pass away, and 58.2% reporting they are reaching the limits of providing care.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt August 29, 2025 0

Disability Group Homes (GH) Japan Podcast Welfare

Only 10% of Municipalities Implement Caps on Disability Welfare Services, Japan’s Health Ministry Reports [Podcast Episode]

A Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry survey has found that only about 10% of local governments have implemented caps on disability welfare services to prevent oversupply, despite rising demand. Around 40% said they were considering adopting the measure, while 30% opposed it, citing the need to respond flexibly when demand exceeds projections. The cap currently applies to residential facilities, day activity services, and two types of employment support, but whether to add group homes, whose numbers have surged in recent years has become a key issue.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt August 28, 2025 1

Disability Group Homes (GH) Japan Welfare

Only 10% of Municipalities Implement Caps on Disability Welfare Services, Japan’s Health Ministry Reports

A Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry survey has found that only about 10% of local governments have implemented caps on disability welfare services to prevent oversupply, despite rising demand. Around 40% said they were considering adopting the measure, while 30% opposed it, citing the need to respond flexibly when demand exceeds projections. The cap currently applies to residential facilities, day activity services, and two types of employment support, but whether to add group homes, whose numbers have surged in recent years has become a key issue.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt May 29, 2025 0

Care Disability Group Homes (GH) Independent Living Japan

Japan Government Forms National Review Committee to Discuss Functions and Roles of Residential Facilities for People with Severe Intellectual Disabilities

While efforts are being made to allow people with disabilities to live in the areas of their choice, a national review committee has begun, consisting of experts and people with disabilities, to discuss the functions and roles of large-scale “residential facilities” where people with severe intellectual disabilities live. Regarding housing for people with disabilities, there has been a shift from residential facilities where dozens of people live together to “group homes” using ordinary houses, and the number of people entering facilities has decreased by more than 6,500 in five years. The study group is scheduled to compile a report by the end of the fiscal year on the future vision for residential facilities.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt April 25, 2025 0

Care Group Homes (GH) Japan Podcast

Okinawa Group Home for People with Disabilities Suspected of Overcharging without Meeting Standards has Designation Revoked [Podcast Episode]

According to the prefecture, from the time the facility was designated as a disability welfare service provider in August two years ago until an audit conducted in November last year, the home had delegated operations to another organization, with the official manager failing to carry out oversight duties. Furthermore, it failed to create individualized support plans for users, among other violations of operational standards.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt April 24, 2025 1

Care Disability Group Homes (GH) Japan Welfare

Okinawa Group Home for People with Disabilities Suspected of Overcharging without Meeting Standards has Designation Revoked

A group home for people with disabilities located in Uruma City has been found to be operating without meeting required standards and allegedly overcharging for service benefits. The prefectural government has announced that it will revoke the facility’s designation as a disability welfare service provider.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt September 21, 2024 0

Disability Elderly Group Homes (GH) Japan Welfare

Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare to conduct survey of people with disabilities on waiting list for facilities in October

According to a questionnaire survey conducted by NHK in collaboration with experts this year in all prefectures and municipalities across the country, there are at least 22,000 people with disabilities who wish to use large-scale “residential facilities” or “group homes” where small numbers of people live, but are on waiting list.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt August 21, 2024 0

Abuse Care Crime Disability Group Homes (GH) Japan Sexual abuse

Osaka Group Home Manager Admits to Sexually Abusing Two Intellectually Disabled Women [Podcast Episode]

A man who ran a group home for people with disabilities admitted to habitually sexually abusing two women who stayed there, also filming obscene scenes with a smartphone. In court, he repeatedly stated that “it was his own weakness that led him to commit the crime.” The prosecution denounced the crime as “treating the victims as an outlet for sexual desire and severely violating their personalities,” and sought a 10-year prison sentence.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt August 6, 2024 0

Care Disability Group Homes (GH) Japan Megumi Corporation

After ‘Group Home’ Scandal, Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare to “examine definition” to clarify situation of people waiting for admission to facilities for people with disabilities

Regarding the issue of people nationwide on waiting lists due to a lack of vacancies in residential facilities and group homes (GHs) for people with disabilities, the Health, Labor and Welfare Minister Keizo Takemi expressed his intention to clarify the actual situation of those on the waiting list at a press conference on July 23rd. In a survey conducted by NHK, which received responses from 47 prefectures and 696 cities, wards, towns and villages, which account for 40% of the total, it was found that a total of 22,000 people were on the waiting list for facilities and GHs.