Japan heads to Winter Paralympic Games with biggest team in decades
Japan is fielding 44 athletes across all six sports, its largest overseas delegation to a Winter Paralympics, surpassed only by the 70 at the 1998 Nagano Games.
Category: Japan
Tokyo Institute of Science Identifies Mechanism Causing Kidney Damage from Red Yeast Rice Supplements
Amid health problems linked to red yeast rice supplements produced by Kobayashi Pharmaceutical, a research team at the Tokyo Institute of Science announced by the 5th that it has clarified part of the mechanism by which puberulic acid, a substance derived from blue mold and identified as the causal compound, triggers kidney damage. While the substance responsible had previously been identified, how it actually damaged the kidneys had remained unclear.
Tokyo High Court Upholds Unification Church Dissolution Order [Podcast Episode]
Tokyo High Court on Wednesday 4th March upheld a district court order for the dissolution of the controversial religious group Unification Church, stripping the organization of its status as a religious corporation. “A dissolution order is necessary and inevitable, even when taking into consideration the impact on followers’ freedom of religion,” Motoko Miki, presiding judge of the high court, said.
Paralympics: Japan skier Kawayoke alters game plan in pursuit of gold
After winning gold four years ago in Beijing, Japanese Para cross-country skier Taiki Kawayoke has adopted a new game plan as he targets a return to the top of the podium at the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Paralympics, opening Friday.
Tokyo High Court Upholds Unification Church Dissolution Order
Tokyo High Court on Wednesday upheld a district court order for the dissolution of the controversial religious group Unification Church, stripping the organization of its status as a religious corporation. “A dissolution order is necessary and inevitable, even when taking into consideration the impact on followers’ freedom of religion,” Motoko Miki, presiding judge of the high court, said.
Hiroshima Revokes Designation of 7 Facilities for Disabled Children; Fraudulent Claims Affect 214 [Podcast Episode]
Hiroshima Prefecture announced on Feb. 27 that it will revoke the designation of four facilities in Etajima City, including “Popo Etajima,” which serve children with disabilities. The revocation, due to fraudulent claims by the operator, will take effect on April 1. The city of Kure also announced it will take similar action against three facilities in the city operated by the same company. The total amount of fraudulent claims is about 260 million yen, affecting 214 children. As they will no longer be able to use the services from April 1, the prefectural government and other authorities are coordinating alternative placements.
Hiroshima Revokes Designation of 7 Facilities for Disabled Children; Fraudulent Claims Affect 214
Hiroshima Prefecture announced on Feb. 27 that it will revoke the designation of four facilities in Etajima City, including “Popo Etajima,” which serve children with disabilities. The revocation, due to fraudulent claims by the operator, will take effect on April 1. The city of Kure also announced it will take similar action against three facilities in the city operated by the same company. The total amount of fraudulent claims is about 260 million yen, affecting 214 children. As they will no longer be able to use the services from April 1, the prefectural government and other authorities are coordinating alternative placements.
Japan Faces Ongoing Gender Gaps as International Women’s Day Approaches
As International Women’s Day on March 8 approaches, gender equality advocates in Japan are highlighting the need to break entrenched stereotypes in media and address the continued underrepresentation of women in politics.
Kitakyushu to Revoke Designation of Disability Support Facility Over Fraudulent Benefit Claims [Podcast Episode]
Kitakyushu City said it will revoke the designation of a Type B continuous employment support facility for people with disabilities in Yahatanishi Ward after its operator, based in Nakama, Fukuoka Prefecture, was found to have fraudulently claimed public support funds. According to the city, the company falsely reported that a full-time instructor was employed to improve participants’ wages in order to receive additional staffing payments between May and September last year, and also inflated attendance records for a user approved for services by another municipality, billing for more days than were actually attended. The revocation, under the Comprehensive Support for Persons with Disabilities Act, will take effect on March 31.
Kitakyushu to Revoke Designation of Disability Support Facility Over Fraudulent Benefit Claims
Kitakyushu City said it will revoke the designation of a Type B continuous employment support facility for people with disabilities in Yahatanishi Ward after its operator, based in Nakama, Fukuoka Prefecture, was found to have fraudulently claimed public support funds. According to the city, the company falsely reported that a full-time instructor was employed to improve participants’ wages in order to receive additional staffing payments between May and September last year, and also inflated attendance records for a user approved for services by another municipality, billing for more days than were actually attended. The revocation, under the Comprehensive Support for Persons with Disabilities Act, will take effect on March 31.
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