Post-Election, Pneumonia & So Long Yakuza and Thanks for the Care Facility! [Podcast Episode]
A Post-election in Japan digest podcast episode, full of pneumonia and abandoned Yakuza facilities!
Category: Podcast
Election Day in Japan: The Podcast Episode of ‘Do it Yourself!!’ [Podcast Episode]
As this blog post is being written it is 8PM on Sunday 27th October, the polls have just closed and NHK is predicting that the LDP and New Komeito may lose their majority.
The polling place near where Barrier Free Japan lives in Kobe had NHK crew near it in the morning and were asking questions about how people voted, and what they thought about far right groups like the ‘Sanseito’, a party that in English refers to themselves as the ‘Party of Do it Yourself!!’
On the Eve of an Election in Japan [Podcast Episode]
Tomorrow, Sunday October 27th 2024, is a general election in Japan, or more specifically, an election for the ‘lower house’ the House of Representatives. I did think it was kind of cool that Hiromi Fujisue, the Japanese Communist Party Candidate for the Hyogo 1st District, passed by me and seemed to waved at me from her van whilst canvassing today.
Storytime with Barrier Free Japan: Unwanted ‘Backpack Grabs’ and Painful ‘Help’ [Podcast Episode]
This just happens too often to Michey of Barrier Free Japan. Michey will be walking down a street and then, from behind, someone will grab Michey’s backpack. Some will say ‘but they were trying to be kind.’ As someone with a physical disability, all I can say is this: their unwelcome attention is no less painful because it was well-intentioned. Just ask permission before grabbing people and their belongings!
Intellectually Disabled Man Barred from Tokyo Matchmaking Event, Told “only healthy are eligible” [Podcast Episode]
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government has taken issue with the response of the organizing group regarding the participation of a man with a mild intellectual disability at a matchmaking party posted on the Tokyo Metropolitan Government’s website. The man was refused participation immediately after declaring his disability. The Tokyo Metropolitan Government has asked the organizers to “take sincere action,” and the group has expressed its intention to improve.
Ahead of Lower House Election, Japan Council of Disabled People Calls for Improvements to Enable Ability to Vote [Podcast Episode]
The request calls for (1) the preparation of materials with the list of candidates written in Braille or large print, (2) permission to have a helper accompany people when voting, and (3) publicizing the fact that people who have difficulty moving around can vote by post, and people who have difficulty writing can vote by proxy by having a polling station employee write for them.
Driver arrested for sexually assaulting female user of support facility for people with disabilities on a Tokyo shuttle bus [Podcast Episode]
The suspect (71) arrested on suspicion of non-consensual sexual intercourse, is a driver for a disability support facility in Koganei City, Tokyo, who is suspected of sexually assaulting a female user in her 20s on the bus he was driving in July this year. The suspect denied the charges, saying, “I did nothing obscene.” The woman claims to have been a victim of similar assaults multiple times, and the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department is investigating her for other crimes as well.
Man arrested for allegedly assaulting visually impaired man in accessible toilet at Jimbocho Station, Tokyo [Podcast Episode]
A 34-year-old man was arrested for assaulting a visually impaired man by kicking him with his foot in the multipurpose restroom at Jimbocho Station on the Toei Shinjuku Line in Tokyo. The suspect Ikeda admitted to the investigation that he “felt rushed” and admitted to the charges.
Japan’s Diet Enacts Forced Sterilization Compensation Bill [Podcast Episode]
Japan’s House of Representatives, the lower chamber of parliament, unanimously passed a bill on Monday 7th October to compensate victims of forced sterilization under the now-defunct eugenic protection law. The bill is expected to be enacted on Tuesday after approval by the House of Councillors, the upper chamber. It calls for compensation of 15 million yen each for victims and 5 million yen for their spouses, as well as a lump-sum payment of 2 million yen to those forced to have abortions. If victims and their spouses are already deceased, the bill allows their bereaved families to seek compensation.
National Network for People with Developmental Disabilities to be Formed [Podcast Episode]
A forum was held in Tokyo on September 22nd to form a national network for people with developmental disabilities, Kyodo News reported. In order to reflect the voices of people with developmental disabilities in national and local government policies, local groups of people with developmental disabilities have decided to form a national network. Representatives of the initiators exchanged opinions on issues such as employment and welfare. A website will be launched within the year and participation will be encouraged.
Barrier Free Japan 