Category: Japan

by Michael Gillan Peckitt June 4, 2025 Number of comments0
Hospitals Japan Podcast Politics

LDP, Komeito, Nippon Ishin Agree to Reduce Hospital Beds [Podcast Episode]

Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party-Komeito coalition and Nippon Ishin no Kai (Japan Innovation Party) agreed Thursday 29th May to remove up to 110,000 redundant hospital beds across the country, in an effort to reduce social security costs. The three parties will formalize the agreement soon, aiming to include the reduction in the government’s upcoming economic and fiscal policy guidelines, which will be adopted in June. Nippon Ishin estimates that reducing 110,000 hospital beds would save around 1 trillion yen in medical costs. “The three parties share the same recognition (about the effect of reducing hospital beds),” Ryohei Iwatani, secretary-general of the party, told reporters after meeting with officials from the LDP and Komeito earlier on the day.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt June 3, 2025 Number of comments0
Care Children developmental disabilities Disability Japan

“High quality therapeutic care is necessary!”: Kochi Parents of Children with Developmental Disabilities Concerned Over Facility Closure Plans

There is a growing possibility that the Hata Hope House Daycare Center “Tsukushinbo” in Sukumo City, which provides therapeutic care for children with developmental disabilities, will close at the end of this fiscal year, and parents in the Hata area are calling for reconsideration. According to the social welfare corporation “Tosa Hope House” (Nangoku City), which runs the facility, the reasons for the closure are the long-running deficit and the expected decrease in users. Parents have submitted 6,247 signatures to the corporation, citing the facility as “high quality therapeutic care and necessary for the community,” and calling for its continuation.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt June 2, 2025 Number of comments0
Japan Minamata Disease

Ceremony Marks 60 Yrs since Niigata Minamata Disease Recognition

A ceremony to mark the 60th anniversary of the official recognition of Niigata Minamata disease, a neurological disorder caused by polluted industrial wastewater containing methylmercury, took place in the city of Niigata, the capital of the namesake prefecture in central Japan. It was the first time in 10 years for an environment minister to attend the ceremony.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt June 2, 2025 Number of comments0
developmental disabilities Disability Japan Podcast Travel

Only 10% of Train Commuters with ‘Mental Disabilities’ in Japan Request ‘Reasonable Accommodation’ [Podcast Episode]

Half of people with mental disabilities or developmental disabilities in Japan have experienced problems using trains, but only 10% have requested reasonable accommodation from train staff, according to a survey conducted by the mental disability group Polke on May 2nd. The revised Act on the Elimination of Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities, which came into force in April 2024, requires private businesses, including trains, to provide reasonable accommodation, but the survey report pointed out that only 10% of people have requested reasonable accommodation, which is a “very serious problem.” It recommended that training for disabled people’s organizations and train staff to learn together needs to be improved.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt June 1, 2025 1
Disability Japan Politics

Japan’s PM Ishiba: “We must make it the norm to have spaces where people can interact with each other regardless of whether they have a disability”

On May 30th, the government held the first event to deepen understanding of people with disabilities, “Tomotomo Festa 2025,” at the State Guest House in Motoakasaka, Tokyo. Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru, who attended the opening ceremony, said, “We must make it the norm to have spaces where people can interact with each other regardless of whether they have a disability or not.”

by Michael Gillan Peckitt May 30, 2025 Number of comments0
Cancer Disability Japan Medical

Kyoto University Team Develops Cancer Prediction Method Using Inside of Cheek

A team of Kyoto University and other researchers has developed a method of predicting with high accuracy the risk of developing esophageal cancer by analyzing cells collected from inside a person’s cheeks.The team’s findings were published in an online international medical journal in April. Its study covered 222 people aged 40-94, all with a history of smoking and drinking habits who were either esophageal cancer patients or did not have such cancer.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt May 30, 2025 1
Hospitals Japan

LDP, Komeito, Nippon Ishin Agree to Reduce Hospital Beds

Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party-Komeito coalition and Nippon Ishin no Kai (Japan Innovation Party) agreed Thursday to remove up to 110,000 redundant hospital beds across the country, in an effort to reduce social security costs. The three parties will formalize the agreement soon, aiming to include the reduction in the government’s upcoming economic and fiscal policy guidelines, which will be adopted in June. Nippon Ishin estimates that reducing 110,000 hospital beds would save around 1 trillion yen in medical costs. “The three parties share the same recognition (about the effect of reducing hospital beds),” Ryohei Iwatani, secretary-general of the party, told reporters after meeting with officials from the LDP and Komeito earlier on the day.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt May 30, 2025 Number of comments0
Disability Japan Podcast Welfare

Higashiosaka Disability Employment Support Providers Penalized for Fraudulent Claims; Providers Dispute Allegations [Podcast Episode]

NHK reported on May 28th that the city of Higashiosaka announced that it has decided to revoke the designation of two offices operated by a nonprofit organization (NPO) providing employment support for people with disabilities, after determining that they fraudulently received over 120 million yen in subsidies by falsifying service provision records. The city is also demanding repayment of the funds. One of the offices responded to inquiries by stating that it plans to contest the decision in court and will seek a reassessment of the penalties.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt May 29, 2025 Number of comments0
Care Disability Group Homes (GH) Independent Living Japan

Japan Government Forms National Review Committee to Discuss Functions and Roles of Residential Facilities for People with Severe Intellectual Disabilities

While efforts are being made to allow people with disabilities to live in the areas of their choice, a national review committee has begun, consisting of experts and people with disabilities, to discuss the functions and roles of large-scale “residential facilities” where people with severe intellectual disabilities live. Regarding housing for people with disabilities, there has been a shift from residential facilities where dozens of people live together to “group homes” using ordinary houses, and the number of people entering facilities has decreased by more than 6,500 in five years. The study group is scheduled to compile a report by the end of the fiscal year on the future vision for residential facilities.