Category: Japan

by Michael Gillan Peckitt December 3, 2023 Number of comments0
Deaf developmental disabilities Disability Hearing Impaired Japan

1% of children in Japan have ‘listening difficulties’: large-scale survey also reveals connection with developmental disorders

A survey conducted by the Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED) research team found that approximately 1% of children have symptoms of “listening difficulties” – (LiD) – such as inability to hear or frequent mishearing, even though hearing tests show no abnormalities. This is the first large-scale epidemiological study in Japan, and the paper was published in an international journal.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt December 2, 2023 1
Barrier Free Children Disability Entertainment Japan

Dreamnight program enables disabled children to enjoy visits to zoos in Japan

Creating a fun haven for children with disabilities hoping to see wildlife is a global effort that has lasted over a quarter century.

And it is spreading widely among Japanese zoos, albeit normally as a one-day event as they embrace the twilight by opening their gates at night or reserving entire days exclusively for those with special needs and their families.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt November 30, 2023 Number of comments0
Abuse Disability Japan Podcast

Disability News Japan Podcast: Employees at Chiba Facility for Disabled Post Photos of Patients Defecating on LINE App

At a daily-life care facility for people with severe intellectual disabilities in Funabashi City, Chiba Prefecture, a staff member was found to have posted a photo of a user defecating on a LINE group used for business communication. The pictures of users’ faces had been doctored in a manner that could be interpreted as teasing. The city’s Disability Welfare Division is investigating the possibility of abuse.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt November 29, 2023 1
Abuse Care Disability Intellectual disabilities Japan

Employees at Chiba facility for the mentally disabled put a photo of patient defecating on LINE, doctoring photo to make fun of the patient’s face

At a daily-life care facility for people with severe intellectual disabilities in Funabashi City, Chiba Prefecture, a staff member was found to have posted a photo of a user defecating on a LINE group used for business communication. The pictures of users’ faces had been doctored in a manner that could be interpreted as teasing. The city’s Disability Welfare Division is investigating the possibility of abuse.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt November 28, 2023 Number of comments0
Disability Intellectual disabilities Japan Podcast Work

Disability News Japan Podcast: Three Hokkaido Farm Workers with Intellectual Disabilities File Lawsuit Over Alleged Abuse

Three men with intellectual disabilities filed a lawsuit asking the ranch owner’s family and the city to pay a total of approximately 94 million yen in damages, alleging that they were abused at the ranch where they lived and worked for many years (in Eniwa City, Hokkaido). The first hearing was held on November 28th at the Sapporo District Court (presiding judge Yuji Fuse). The defendants, the manager’s family, and the city requested that the claim be dismissed, stating that they were not aware of any abuse.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt November 28, 2023 Number of comments0
Abuse Hokkaido Intellectual disabilities Japan Work

Japanese Public Law Litigation NPO ‘Call4’ Raises Money for Intellectually Disabled Farm Workers Suing over Abuse

On Tuesday 1st January 2024, at the Sapporo District Court, the second oral arguments will be heard. The Japanese Public Law Litigation NPO ‘Call4’ is raising money to pay for plaintiff’s legal fees
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The ‘Call4’ fundraising website points out that when the abuse of the three people with intellectual disabilities on the ranch was discovered “it covered up the fact and left it as it was. This seems to have been influenced by the fact that the ranch was run by a former Eniwa City Council member (chairman). This lawsuit seeks to hold Eniwa City responsible for concealing and neglecting the abuse of people with disabilities.”

by Michael Gillan Peckitt November 28, 2023 Number of comments0
Japan Organ Donation Transplantation

Japan NPO Exec Gets 8 Months for Unauthorized Organ Transplant Brokering

Tokyo District Court sentenced an executive of a Japanese nonprofit organization to eight months in prison Tuesday for unauthorized brokering of organ transplants.

Presiding Judge Yoshiro Baba handed down the ruling to Hiromichi Kikuchi, 63. Prosecutors had sought a one-year term and a fine of 1 million yen.

The judge fined the NPO that supports patients of intractable diseases 1 million yen, as had been sought by the prosecution.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt November 28, 2023 4
Abuse Intellectual disabilities Japan Work

“Besides being intellectually disabled, you are a human being.” Plaintiff claims in Hokkaido farm abuse lawsuit

Three men with intellectual disabilities filed a lawsuit asking the ranch owner’s family and the city to pay a total of approximately 94 million yen in damages, alleging that they were abused at the ranch where they lived and worked for many years (in Eniwa City, Hokkaido). According to the complaint, all three men are in their 60s and had been living and working at Endo Farm in the same city for 18 to 45 years. As a general rule, there were no days off, and he woke up around 3:30 a.m. and worked from dawn until dusk, milking cows and doing farm work, but he was not paid.