Category: Japan

by Michael Gillan Peckitt October 23, 2025 Number of comments0
Disability Elderly Japan Medical Nursing Care Politics

Balancing Medical Services, Costs a Major Challenge for Takaichi

New Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi faces a difficult challenge in maintaining the quality of the country’s medical and nursing care services while lowering related expenses, amid an aging population. Nippon Ishin no Kai (Japan Innovation Party), the new coalition partner to Takaichi’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party, has called for lowering social security premiums for working people. But this requires reforms that are expected to increase the burden on society, including the elderly, as a whole. Since medical and nursing care services are offered at fixed prices set by the state, many service providers are struggling to cope with rapid inflation and are operating at a loss.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt October 22, 2025 1
Disability Elderly Japan Sanae Takaichi

New Cabinet under Takaichi omits dedicated minister for elderly, disabled

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s new Cabinet, launched Tuesday, appointed Kenichiro Ueno as health, labor and welfare minister and Hitoshi Kikawada as minister for children and population issues, but did not include a minister specifically in charge of elderly or disabled affairs, leaving those areas under the health ministry’s broader welfare framework.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt October 22, 2025 Number of comments0
Assassination of Shinzo Abe Crime Disability Japan

Abe Killer’s Mother to Testify in Court

The mother of Tetsuya Yamagami, indicted for killing former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe with a handmade gun in Nara in 2022, will go to court as a defense witness, it was learned Wednesday. 
   In the final pretrial arrangement proceeding held the same day, Nara District Court decided to have five witnesses testy for Yamagami, 45, and seven others for the prosecution as requested by the two sides, respectively.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt October 22, 2025 Number of comments0
Autism Crime Japan Podcast

Prosecutors Seek Death Penalty for Autistic Defendant over Fatal Crossbow Attack in Japan [Podcast Episode]

Japanese public prosecutors on Wednesday 15th October sought the death penalty for Hideaki Nozu, who has been charged with killing three members of his family with a crossbow at his home in Takarazuka, Hyogo Prefecture, in June 2020.The prosecution said that Nozu’s autism spectrum disorder did not significantly affect his motivation and that his acts were planned. The defendant maintained the capacity to control his actions and was fully competent, as he hesitated to carry out his plan, it said.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt October 21, 2025 Number of comments0
Crime Health Japan Prison

Japan Government Ordered to Pay Damages for Verbal Abuse of Inmate

A Japanese court on Monday ordered the government to pay some 300,000 yen in damages over verbal abuse and other illegal acts by prison guards against an inmate in Aichi Prefecture. Presiding Judge Akira Chino denied the causal relationship between his death and medical treatment provided by Nagoya Prison in the Aichi city of Miyoshi. he man was sent to a hospital for a possible heart attack on Feb. 22, 2022, when he was serving his sentence for an assault. He died of multiple organ failure on March 1 that year at the age of 71 after coming back to the prison. The ruling by Tokyo District Court came after the bereaved family of the inmate sued the government for some 40 million yen, accusing it of failing to offer proper medical treatment to him.


by Michael Gillan Peckitt October 20, 2025 Number of comments0
Japan Politics Sanae Takaichi

Japan’s LDP, Nippon Ishin Agree to Form Coalition Government

The pact, inked by LDP President Sanae Takaichi and Nippon Ishin chief Hirofumi Yoshimura at a meeting in the Diet, or the country’s parliament, on Monday night, features a plan to reduce the number of seats in the House of Representatives, the lower chamber of the Diet, by 10 pct during an extraordinary Diet session that begins Tuesday. Nippon Ishin will not hold a ministerial post and will instead support the LDP from outside the cabinet.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt October 20, 2025 1
Autism Crime Japan

Prosecutors Seek Death Penalty for Autistic Defendant over Fatal Crossbow Attack in Japan

Japanese public prosecutors on Wednesday sought the death penalty for Hideaki Nozu, who has been charged with killing three members of his family with a crossbow at his home in Takarazuka, Hyogo Prefecture, in June 2020.The prosecution said that Nozu’s autism spectrum disorder did not significantly affect his motivation and that his acts were planned. The defendant maintained the capacity to control his actions and was fully competent, as he hesitated to carry out his plan, it said.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt October 20, 2025 Number of comments0
Health Japan Podcast

Unicharm to Test Sanitary Pad Dispensers in Tokyo’s Shibuya [Podcast Episode]

Unicharm Corp. announced on Wednesday 15th October it will begin a trial installation of free sanitary pad dispensers at 22 public facilities in Tokyo’s Shibuya Ward, in partnership with the local government. Running until Dec. 26, the initiative aims to support individuals who cannot afford menstrual products. While Unicharm provides the dispensers, Shibuya Ward will supply the sanitary napkins. The company, which has already introduced the dispensers in schools and businesses, expressed hopes of expanding the program through further cooperation with local governments.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt October 19, 2025 1
Health Japan

Unicharm to Test Sanitary Pad Dispensers in Tokyo’s Shibuya

Unicharm Corp. announced on Wednesday 15th October it will begin a trial installation of free sanitary pad dispensers at 22 public facilities in Tokyo’s Shibuya Ward, in partnership with the local government. Running until Dec. 26, the initiative aims to support individuals who cannot afford menstrual products. While Unicharm provides the dispensers, Shibuya Ward will supply the sanitary napkins. The company, which has already introduced the dispensers in schools and businesses, expressed hopes of expanding the program through further cooperation with local governments.