Category: Japan

by Michael Gillan Peckitt April 8, 2024 1
Disability Japan Politics

Disabled Japanese Author Hirotada Ototake to Run in Lower House By-Election

Author of ‘No One’s Perfect’, Hirotada Ototake said on Monday 8th that he will run as an independent in the April 28 House of Representatives by-election in the Tokyo No. 15 constituency with the backing of Tomin First no Kai or ‘Tokyoites First Party’, a political organization closely linked to Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike that he serves as deputy leader. Ototake said that as one who has congenital tetra-amelia syndrome, he wants to “help people in need through the power of politics.”

by Michael Gillan Peckitt April 7, 2024 Number of comments0
COVID-19 Disability Elderly Japan Kobayashi Pharmaceutical Co. Podcast Shog.A.I. Shimbun

The Shog-A.I. Shimbun #17: Prejudice Against Ex-Leprosy Patients in Japan & Other New Fiscal Year News

A disability news-related digest from the first few days of April 2024 in Japan, the beginning of the fiscal year. Kobayashi Pharmaceutical Co. says that water leaked “into ‘beni-koji’ production tank in past.” Japan’s Health Ministry conducted a poll that revealed 35% of people are prejudiced against ex-leprosy patients and 2024 brings changes regarding policies about health and for people with disabilities in Japan.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt April 6, 2024 1
Barrier Free Disability Health Japan

Spring 2024 in Japan Brings In Changes for Health and People with Disabilities

As spring and the next fiscal year arrives, some changes and new policies that may affect the elderly and people with disabilities in Japan will be rolled out. Public subsidies related to the coronavirus will change, limits on overtime for doctors will be imposed and backed by penalties. Fees paid to nursing care providers will go up 1.59% overall and the revised Act for Eliminating Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities will come into effect.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt April 6, 2024 1
Health Japan Kobayashi Pharmaceutical Co.

Kobayashi Pharma says water leaked into ‘beni-koji’ production tank in past

Japanese drugmaker Kobayashi Pharmaceutical says water accidentally leaked into a tank making “beni-koji” red yeast rice supplement and other products’ ingredients at its factory. But the company says it remains unknown whether the leak has anything to do with the kidney and other health problems among those who took supplements and other products with “beni-koji” ingredients.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt April 4, 2024 Number of comments0
Health Japan Podcast Shog.A.I. Shimbun

The Shog-A.I. Shimbun #16: Japan Saw Record Ambulance Dispatches in 2023

There were 7,637,967 ambulance dispatches in Japan in 2023, the highest figure since comparable data became available in 1963, the Fire and Disaster Management Agency said in a preliminary report. From the previous year, ambulance dispatches increased 5.6 pct. The agency also said a record 6,639,959 people, up 6.8 pct, were transported by ambulance.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt April 2, 2024 Number of comments0
Autism Disability Japan Travel

On the United Nations’ ‘Autism Awareness Day’ Japan Airlines Simulates Boarding a Plane for Children with Autism

Tuesday 2nd of April was the United Nation’s ‘Autism Awareness Day’.

Japan Airlines or JAL, Japan’s national airline, held a simulation boarding experience using an actual aircraft at Haneda Airport so that children with autism and other developmental disabilities can enjoy air travel with peace of mind.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt April 1, 2024 Number of comments0
Barrier Free Japan Podcast Shog.A.I. Shimbun

The Shog-A.I. Shimbun #15: Japan raises legally required ratio of employees with disabilities to 2.5% in private sector

The Japanese government has raised the legally required ratio of employees with disabilities in the private sector to 2.5 percent or higher starting on April 1. The labor and welfare ministry says the number of people with disabilities working at private firms has been on an upward trend. It estimates the figure to be more than 1.1 million as of June 2023.