Category: Hokkaido

by Michael Gillan Peckitt June 29, 2023 Number of comments0
Disability Eugenics Forced Sterilization Hokkaido Japan

Forced Sterilization of People with Disabilities in Hokkaido: A Brief Timeline

Between 1948 and 1996, Japan’s eugenics law authorized the sterilization of people with intellectual disabilities, mental illnesses or hereditary disorders to prevent the birth of “inferior” offspring. About 25,000 people with disabilities were sterilized under the law, including around 16,500 who were operated on without their consent, according to government data. A number of the court cases were filed and heard in the Sapporo District Court in Hokkaido.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt June 22, 2023 1
Care Disability Eugenics Forced Sterilization Hokkaido Japan

Disabled Resident of Hokkaido Care Facility “felt coerced” into being Sterilized

On June 21, an interview with the Hokkaido prefectural government revealed that a person with a mental disability who wished to get married or live together at a group home run by Asunaro Fukushikai, a social welfare corporation in Esashi, Hokkaido (Hidetoshi Higuchi, president), stated that he “felt as if he was forced to do so” when asked by the prefectural government about the sterilization procedures being performed on him.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt March 30, 2023 Number of comments0
Abuse Care Disability Hokkaido Japan Podcast

Disability News Japan Podcast: Five Former Staff Members of Hokkaido Care Facility for Disabled Charged with Assault

Six former employees of ‘Seiryu no Sato’, a support facility for persons with disabilities in Nishi-okobe village, were sent to prosecution on suspicion of assault for repeatedly abusing residents last year, including unnecessarily pressing down on them.

The Monbetsu District Public Prosecutor’s Office summarily charged five of them with assault on 29 March.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt March 29, 2023 1
Abuse Care Disability Hokkaido Japan

Five former staff members of Hokkaido support facility for people with disabilities charged with assault

Six former employees of ‘Seiryu no Sato’, a support facility for persons with disabilities in Nishi-okobe village, were sent to prosecution on suspicion of assault for repeatedly abusing residents last year, including unnecessarily pressing down on them.

The Monbetsu District Public Prosecutor’s Office summarily charged five of them with assault on 29 March.

On the other hand, one former employee was not prosecuted.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt February 21, 2023 Number of comments0
Abuse Care Disability Hokkaido Japan

Former staff member at a facility for the disabled in Hokkaido arrested on suspicion of assault

A 28-year-old former employee of a support facility for people with disabilities in Wakkanai was arrested on suspicion of assault at the facility for deliberately putting their foot on a resident and causing the resident to fall over. The police are investigating in detail whether the abuse was a regular occurrence.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt December 28, 2022 Number of comments0
Eugenics Forced Sterilization Hokkaido Japan

Asahi Shimbun Editorial: Sterilization case underlines grim services for people with disabilities

Eight couples underwent sterilization procedures in response to the operator’s suggestion.
The operator of the group home, a social welfare corporation, insists it never compelled anyone to become sterilized nor required sterilization operations as a condition for continued use of its services.