Category: Podcast

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 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 26, 2026 Number of comments0
Care Children Disability Japan Podcast

Tottori Accepts Liability in Death of Disabled Teen at Care Facility [Podcast Episode]

In an accident in March 2025 at the “Prefectural Comprehensive Rehabilitation Center,” a residential facility for children with disabilities in Yonago City, Tottori Prefecture, a resident (then 14) fell from a stretcher, suffered fractures, and later died. On the 23rd, the prefectural government released the results of its investigation. As to causes, it pointed to failures to thoroughly ensure safety, including in the operation of equipment, as well as a lack of shared caregiving methods tailored to each resident.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt March 25, 2026 Number of comments0
Care Disability Invisible Disabilities Japan Podcast

227,000 people in Japan have “Higher Brain Dysfunction” [Podcast Episode]

An estimated 227,000 people in Japan are living with higher brain dysfunction, an “invisible disability” caused by brain damage from strokes or accidents, yet the condition remains poorly understood because its symptoms are not outwardly apparent. As a result, families of those affected often face profound and isolating challenges, including sudden personality changes, emotional instability, and cognitive impairments that others may misinterpret as normal behavior. This lack of visible signs can lead to misunderstanding and insufficient support, leaving caregivers to cope with stress, confusion, and loneliness while navigating daily life alongside their loved ones.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt March 24, 2026 Number of comments0
Barrier Free Disability Discrimination Housing Japan Podcast

People with disabilities in Japan face persistent barriers to housing, accommodation [Podcast Episode]

People with disabilities in Japan continue to face significant barriers in securing housing and accommodation, with multiple recent cases highlighting concerns over discrimination, limited legal enforcement, and a lack of understanding among property owners and service providers.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt March 23, 2026 Number of comments0
Gender Health Japan Podcast

Japan’s new guidelines aim to reduce long lines of women at public toilets [Podcast Episode]

Japan’s transport ministry has come up with draft guidelines aimed at reducing long waiting lines at women’s toilets at stations and commercial facilities. At a meeting of experts and businesspeople on Friday 13th March, the ministry presented its first draft guidelines for public restrooms in such places. The guidelines say it is important for both men and women to be able to use restrooms comfortably, and that the waiting times for each must be equal. They also say that the number of toilets for women needs to be higher than those for men at facilities where the number of male and female toilet users are almost the same.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt March 20, 2026 Number of comments0
Disability Japan Travel Blind Barrier Free Podcast

Shikoku Island Town Trials New Pedestrian Crossing for Visually Impaired [Podcast Episode]

A pedestrian crossing built to a new standard with wider spacing between white lines than before was introduced this month at an intersection near JR Takase Station in Takase Town, Mitoyo City, the first such installation in Shikoku. On the 18th, the prefectural police invited visually impaired people and others to walk across it and share their feedback. In July 2024, related laws on road markings were partially revised, making it possible to widen the spacing between white lines from the previous 45–50 centimetres to as much as 90 centimetres. This is expected to reduce maintenance costs, as it can lessen deterioration caused by vehicle traffic.