Category: Podcast

by Michael Gillan Peckitt April 16, 2026 Number of comments0
Disability Japan Mental Health Podcast

Government Survey Indicates 4.5 Percent in Japan Constantly Feel Lonely [Podcast Episode]

A Japanese government survey in 2025 published on Tuesday 14th April showed that 4.5 pct of respondents in the country often or constantly feel lonely, up 0.2 percentage point from the previous year. The share of people who often or constantly feel lonely was higher in their 30s to 50s. The survey, conducted by the Cabinet Office in December, found that 13.7 pct said they sometimes feel lonely and 19.5 pct said they have lonely feelings once in a while.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt April 14, 2026 Number of comments0
Disability Employment Japan Podcast Welfare

Sapporo Employment Support Agency Executive Referred to Prosecutors Over False Disability Claims [Podcast Episode]

Masamichi Sone, the representative of a company operating facilities such as “Rapport” in Nishi Ward, Sapporo, has been arrested and referred to prosecutors. Sone is suspected of repeatedly submitting false applications to Sapporo City between 2022 and 2025, claiming to have provided employment support services for persons with disabilities despite not having appointed a qualified managing supervisor as required. He allegedly defrauded the city of approximately ¥35 million in benefit payments.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt April 13, 2026 Number of comments0
Crime Disability Japan Podcast Welfare

Tokyo’s Toshima Ward Revokes Designation of Deaf Child Daycare Centre Over 58.3 Million Yen Fraud, Falsified Staff Reports [Podcast Episode]

Tokyo’s Toshima Ward announced on the 10th that it has revoked the designation of the childcare support service “Aton Juku – Child Development Support and After-School Day Service for Children Living with Sign Language,” after it was found to have fraudulently received approximately 58.3 million yen in benefits by concealing a staff shortage. The revocation will take effect from July 1.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt April 11, 2026 Number of comments0
Disability Employment Japan Podcast

60% of Workers in Japan with Mental or Developmental Disabilities Do Not Disclose Disability [Podcast Episode]

When an advocacy group for people with mental and developmental disabilities conducted a survey on employment, over 60% of respondents reported having experience with “closed employment” – working without disclosing their disability. Many cited the reason for non-disclosure as “feeling that it would lead to employment disadvantages such as dismissal or contract non-renewal.”

by Michael Gillan Peckitt April 10, 2026 Number of comments0
Alzheimer’s Dementia Japan Podcast

Novel Alzheimer’s Therapies Given to Less than 20 Percent of Applicants in Japan [Podcast Episode]

Novel Alzheimer’s therapies have been given to 19 pct of outpatients who applied for the medications, according to a recent survey at a Tokyo hospital. The lecanemab and donanemab therapies for early-stage Alzheimer’s patients are now clinically available under Japan’s national health insurance scheme, which curbs a sharp rise in out-of-pocket medical expenses. Despite the relatively low-cost availability, however, the drugs have eventually been administered to only 87 out of 456 applicants, the survey by a study group at the Tokyo Metropolitan Institute for Geriatrics and Gerontology showed.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt April 4, 2026 Number of comments0
Care Children Disability Japan Podcast

Survey Reveals 60% of Families of People with Disabilities in Japan Feel They are at Care “Limit” [Podcast Episode]

A survey of families of people with disabilities has revealed that nearly 60% responded that they feel they have reached their limit with caregiving (care/assistance). It was also found that about 90% said they are worried about the lives of people with disabilities after their parents have passed away.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt April 3, 2026 Number of comments0
Autism Disability Discrimination Employment Japan Podcast

“We’d like you to resign”: Worker in Japan fired 4 days after revealing autism [Podcast Episode]

“We’d like you to resign.” Hearing those words, Yamakawa (a pseudonym) was shocked. They never expected such a drastic change in their employer’s attitude. The incident that came to mind had happened just four days earlier. Yamakawa had revealed to the head of the company, where they had been working for three years, that they had ASD.