Category: Japan

by Michael Gillan Peckitt July 7, 2024 Number of comments0
Assassination of Shinzo Abe Cults Disability Japan

Unification Church in Tough Position 2 Yrs after Abe Shooting

As Monday marks the second anniversary of the fatal shooting of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, the Unification Church finds itself in a difficult position as the incident shed light on the religious group’s controversial practices, such as collecting massive donations from its followers.

Since November 2022, the culture ministry has repeatedly exercised its right to have the group respond to its inquiries. And in October last year, the ministry asked Tokyo District Court to issue an order to dissolve the group, alleging violations of the Civil Code.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt July 7, 2024 Number of comments0
Barrier Free Disability Eugenics Forced Sterilization Japan Mark Bookman Podcast Shog.A.I. Shimbun

The Shog-A.I. Shimbun Podcast #40: Child Policy Minister Meets with Forced Sterilization Plaintiffs, Documentary about Disability Advocate to be Released on DVD

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida instructed Ayuko Kato, minister in charge of child policy, to set up a meeting between him and the plaintiffs this month, Kato told reporters after she met with Kishida at the prime minister’s office. Kato met with the plaintiffs on Thursday.

The documentary film ‘Mark – A Call to Action’ about the late Dr. Mark Bookman, Tokyo based disability studies scholar and advocate will be released on DVD in October 2024.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt July 5, 2024 Number of comments0
Disability Eugenics Forced Sterilization Japan Podcast Shog.A.I. Shimbun

The Shog-A.I. Shimbun Podcast #39: Japan’s top court orders government to pay damages over forced sterilization 

Japan’s Supreme Court on Wednesday awarded damages to victims of forced sterilizations conducted under the now-defunct eugenic protection law. 

Handing down a unified ruling on five related damages suits, the top court’s Grand Bench, presided over by Chief Justice Saburo Tokura, decided not to apply the 20-year statute of limitations for damages claims, a focal point of the case. It effectively handed total victory to the plaintiffs.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt July 4, 2024 Number of comments0
Disability Eugenics Forced Sterilization Japan

“Compulsory sterilization under the old Eugenic Protection Law. The nation must apologize and compensate!” (Kyodo Photograph)

Japan’s Supreme Court on Wednesday ordered the government to pay damages to plaintiffs who were forced to undergo sterilization surgery in the 1950s to 1970s under a now-defunct eugenics protection law, ruling for the first time that the law was unconstitutional. (Photo from Kyodo)

by Michael Gillan Peckitt July 3, 2024 2
Disability Eugenics Forced Sterilization Japan

Japan Top Court Orders Damages for Forced Sterilizations

Japan’s Supreme Court on Wednesday awarded damages to victims of forced sterilizations under the now-defunct eugenic protection law. 
   The top court’s Grand Bench, presided over by Chief Justice Saburo Tokura, decided not to apply the 20-year statute of limitation for damages claims, a focal point of the case, effectively handing victory to the plaintiffs.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt July 3, 2024 2
Disability Health Japan Medical Transplantation

3 Universities in Japan Prepare to Start Performing Heart Transplants; Move Aimed at Easing Strain on Medical Transplant System

The move comes as the number of organs provided from brain-dead donors increases. It also follows a recent survey that found medical institutions had declined 16 heart donations from such donors in 2023 due to a shortage of manpower and hospital beds. The number of medical facilities capable of performing heart transplants will increase to 14 nationwide after the hospitals at three national universities — Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU), Okayama University and Ehime University — are approved to perform such operations.