Category: Japan

by Michael Gillan Peckitt April 1, 2026 Number of comments0
Children Health Hospitals Japan Medical

Funds Sought for Doctor Jet Project to Help Sick Children

A nonprofit organization in the western Japan prefecture of Osaka has launched a crowdfunding campaign to continue its “doctor jet” service, which transports critically ill patients to medical facilities by air. Japan Critical Care Jet Network (JCCN), based in the city of Suita in Osaka, began the campaign on Monday to maintain the service for severely ill pediatric patients, with a goal of raising 200 million yen. The project has relied on donations, but funds have become depleted, making it difficult to continue operations without additional support. The doctor jet is an aircraft staffed with doctors and nurses that provides intensive care, including artificial respiration, while transporting patients to medical institutions, including those equipped with pediatric intensive care units.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt April 1, 2026 Number of comments0
Disability Employment Japan Podcast Welfare

Wakayama Fails to Hire Statutory Number of People with Disabilities [Podcast Episode]

According to the announcement, as of June 1, 2024, three municipalities, Kinokawa, Shirahama, and Kushimoto, did not meet the statutory employment rate of 2.8% for persons with disabilities under the Act on Employment Promotion of Persons with Disabilities. As a result, they formulated employment plans for hiring persons with disabilities as required by the law. However, despite guidance from the bureau aimed at achieving the target, the situation had not improved by the deadline of the end of December 2025.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt March 31, 2026 2
Disability Employment Japan

Wakayama Fails to Hire Statutory Number of People with Disabilities

According to the announcement, as of June 1, 2024, three municipalities – Kinokawa, Shirahama, and Kushimoto – did not meet the statutory employment rate of 2.8% for persons with disabilities under the Act on Employment Promotion of Persons with Disabilities. As a result, they formulated employment plans for hiring persons with disabilities as required by the law. However, despite guidance from the bureau aimed at achieving the target, the situation had not improved by the deadline of the end of December 2025.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt March 31, 2026 Number of comments0
Disability Japan Podcast Welfare

Osaka revokes licenses of four Kizuna Holdings employment support facilities over excess disability subsidies [Podcast Episode]

Osaka City said March 27 it had revoked the operating licenses of four disability employment support facilities run by subsidiaries of Kizuna Holdings, after determining they had improperly received excessive public subsidies tied to employment outcomes for people with disabilities. Kizuna Holdings operates Type A continuous employment support facilities, where users with disabilities work in structured settings while receiving wages subsidized by public funds, with the aim of transitioning into regular employment.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt March 29, 2026 2
Disability Japan Osaka Welfare

Osaka revokes disability employment support designation over ¥15 billion in improper payments

On the 27th, Osaka City revoked the designation of a business operated by a subsidiary of the welfare-related company “Kizuna Holdings,” based in the city, after determining that it had received excessive additional payments for employment support for people with disabilities. The amount of the improper payments is said to total approximately ¥15 billion nationwide.