Category: Japan

by Michael Gillan Peckitt May 2, 2024 2
Disability Employment Japan Welfare

“Coming to the farm is your job”: Workers with Disabilities in Japan Harassed, Given Little Work to Make Up Employment Numbers

“The work was far from professional agriculture, and most of the time was spent on breaks. If there was a harvest, I would do it, but there were days when I just watered the crop. In those cases, it only took about 30 minutes, and I had five or six hours of free time. Some people were on their cell phones or listening to music, and had a lot of free time. They told me that ‘coming to the farm is your job.'”

by Michael Gillan Peckitt May 1, 2024 Number of comments0
Disability Japan Minamata Disease

Kumamoto Marks 68th Anniversary since Minamata Disease Confirmation

A ceremony to mark the 68th anniversary of the official recognition of Minamata disease, a neurological disorder caused by polluted industrial wastewater, was held on Wednesday in Minamata, Kumamoto Prefecture, southwestern Japan. “Many people are still suffering from symptoms without relief,” Toshio Kawabata, 73, said in a speech. He became eligible for support provided under the special law for the Minamata disease relief program that was enacted in 2009.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt April 28, 2024 Number of comments0
Disability Japan Kobe World Para Athletics Championships Para Sports Paralympics Politics

The Shog-A.I. Shimbun Podcast #22: Kobe Gets ‘PARAgrressive’ about Sports, Disabled Writer Ototake ‘Certain’ to Lose By-Election

On April 27th Kobe City started to literally ‘fly the flag’ – put out flags in Kobe City – heralding the Kobe 2024 Para Athletics World Championships to be held from May 17th – May 25th.
An event titled ‘PARAgrressive Day’ was held in various locations in Kobe. Barrier Free Japan made some videos!
As of the evening of April 28th 2024, Hirotada Ototake is set to lose the by-election for a House of Representatives seat. On April 23rd it was reported that someone was arrested for attacking a staffer working for Ototake.