Japan – Page 52 – Barrier Free Japan

by Michael Gillan Peckitt June 25, 2025 0

Some Functions of Japan’s My Number Card Now Available on iPhones

Japan on Tuesday started a service that allows some functions of the My Number personal identification card to be mounted on Apple Inc.’s iPhones. Through biometric authentication, iPhone users can now log in to the Mynaportal website for My Number-related administrative tasks and obtain copies of residential and other administrative certificates at convenience stores. The My Number card has functions to confirm the holder’s basic personal data, including the name and date of birth, and to serve as a digital certificate of the holder.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt June 25, 2025 0

Learning “Jiritsu”: Izumisano Welfare Association in Osaka Runs Program for People with Disabilities and Their Parents About Independence [Podcast Episode]

The Izumisano Welfare Association, a social welfare corporation operating 28 disability welfare facilities in Osaka Prefecture (chaired by Hirofumi Muroi), has created a program titled “Parent-Child Mirai Work: A Guide to Everyone’s Path to Jiritsu (Independence) from a Lifewide Learning Perspective”, which helps both young people with disabilities and their parents learn about “jiritsu” (independence). The word “jiritsu” is written in hiragana to avoid making the concept seem overly complicated. The program summarizes the results of a two-year project supported by the Nippon Foundation.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt June 25, 2025 0

Crime Disability Japan

“I’m going to take my disabled brother and wife with me”: Three die in possible murder-suicide in Chiba Prefecture

Early on the morning of June 24th, a man in his 70s was found dead on the grounds of an apartment complex in Matsudo City, Chiba Prefecture, and two other people, a man and a woman in their 70s, were found dead in the room where the man is believed to have lived. Investigators said a note was found saying “I’m going to take my disabled brother and my beloved wife with me,” and police are investigating the possibility that the man attempted a murder-suicide.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt June 24, 2025 0

Disability Health Infectious Diseases Japan

Japan begins pre-entry TB checks for foreigners staying over 3 months

Japan introduced mandatory pre-arrival tuberculosis screening on Monday for people planning to stay over three months, starting with those from the Philippines and Nepal, a government official said.

Vietnam is expected to be added to the list in September, with Indonesia, Myanmar and China to follow.

The number of foreign nationals diagnosed with the infectious disease while in Japan is on the rise, and they are comprised mostly of people from the six countries, according to the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry. While tuberculosis is curable and preventable, it killed an estimated 1.25 million people in 2023 and has likely regained its status as the world’s deadliest infectious disease after being temporarily overtaken by COVID-19, according to the World Health Organization.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt June 23, 2025 0

Disability Employment Health Japan Work

Annual Economic Losses from Workers’ Health Issues Reach 7.6 T. Yen

Economic losses in Japan stemming from workers’ mental or physical disorders, including shoulder stiffness and sleeplessness, total around 7.6 trillion yen each year, a study by Japanese researchers has shown. The losses, linked to lower labor productivity, represent about 1 pct of the country’s nominal gross domestic product for 2024.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt June 23, 2025 0

Disability Disasters Earthquake Elderly Japan Podcast Typhoon

Barely more than 10% of municipalities in Japan have created evacuation plans for individual elderly and disabled persons [Podcast Episode]

Individual evacuation plans are plans that determine in advance where and how elderly and disabled people who have difficulty evacuating on their own will evacuate in the event of a disaster. It has been four years since municipalities became obligated to create individual evacuation plans, but a national summary has revealed that only just over 10% of municipalities have created plans for most of the residents who are eligible. It has been a legal obligation for all municipalities for the past four years.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt June 22, 2025 2

Disability Disasters Earthquake Elderly Japan Typhoon

Barely more than 10% of municipalities in Japan have created evacuation plans for individual elderly and disabled persons

Individual evacuation plans are plans that determine in advance where and how elderly and disabled people who have difficulty evacuating on their own will evacuate in the event of a disaster. It has been four years since municipalities became obligated to create individual evacuation plans, but a national summary has revealed that only just over 10% of municipalities have created plans for most of the residents who are eligible. It has been a legal obligation for all municipalities for the past four years.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt June 21, 2025 1

Assisted Living Disability Independent Living Japan

Izumisano Welfare Association in Osaka Runs Program for People with Disabilities and Their Parents to Learn “Jiritsu” (Independence)

The Izumisano Welfare Association, a social welfare corporation operating 28 disability welfare facilities in Osaka Prefecture (chaired by Hirofumi Muroi), has created a program titled “Parent-Child Mirai Work: A Guide to Everyone’s Path to Jiritsu (Independence) from a Lifewide Learning Perspective”, which helps both young people with disabilities and their parents learn about “jiritsu” (independence). The word “jiritsu” is written in hiragana to avoid making the concept seem overly complicated. The program summarizes the results of a two-year project supported by the Nippon Foundation.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt June 20, 2025 0

Disasters Imperial Family Japan Nursing Care

(Update) Imperial Couple Visit A-Bomb Survivors’ Nursing Home in Hiroshima

Japan’s Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako on Friday visited Yano Orizuru-en, a nursing home for survivors of the 1945 atomic bombing of the western city of Hiroshima. The Imperial couple visited the facility for the first time and met with 10 nursing home residents aged 81 to 99. Emperor Emeritus Akihito visited the nursing home with Empress Emerita Michiko in 2014, before he abdicated the throne.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt June 20, 2025 0

Disability Disasters Imperial Family Japan Nursing Care

Hiroshima A-Bomb Nursing Home Awaits Imperial Couple’s Visit

A nursing home for atomic bomb survivors in Hiroshima is awaiting Friday’s visit by Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako during their trip to the western Japan prefecture as this year marks the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. The facility was opened in 2007 and currently accommodates about 100 residents whose average age exceeds 90. While supporting the residents’ daily lives, it also works to pass on experiences of the 1945 atomic bombing.