Category: Podcast

by Michael Gillan Peckitt July 9, 2024 Number of comments0
Abuse Crime Disability Intellectual disabilities Japan Podcast Shog.A.I. Shimbun

The Shog-A.I. Shimbun Podcast #41: Kyoto men accused of forcing disabled person into washing machine

Kyoto police arrested two men on Thursday for allegedly forcing a disabled coworker into an industrial washing machine and turning it on, injuring him. On March 26 at around 2:30 p.m, the two suspects reportedly told their coworker, a 50-year-old man with an intellectual disability, “You stink! Get in the washing machine.”
They allegedly proceeded to force him into the machine and turn it on, resulting in injuries that required two weeks to heal. The victim sought medical attention a few days after the incident. The doctor who treated him noticed bruises and other injuries all over his body and reported the case to the police.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt July 7, 2024 Number of comments0
Barrier Free Disability Eugenics Forced Sterilization Japan Mark Bookman Podcast Shog.A.I. Shimbun

The Shog-A.I. Shimbun Podcast #40: Child Policy Minister Meets with Forced Sterilization Plaintiffs, Documentary about Disability Advocate to be Released on DVD

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida instructed Ayuko Kato, minister in charge of child policy, to set up a meeting between him and the plaintiffs this month, Kato told reporters after she met with Kishida at the prime minister’s office. Kato met with the plaintiffs on Thursday.

The documentary film ‘Mark – A Call to Action’ about the late Dr. Mark Bookman, Tokyo based disability studies scholar and advocate will be released on DVD in October 2024.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt July 5, 2024 Number of comments0
Disability Eugenics Forced Sterilization Japan Podcast Shog.A.I. Shimbun

The Shog-A.I. Shimbun Podcast #39: Japan’s top court orders government to pay damages over forced sterilization 

Japan’s Supreme Court on Wednesday awarded damages to victims of forced sterilizations conducted under the now-defunct eugenic protection law. 

Handing down a unified ruling on five related damages suits, the top court’s Grand Bench, presided over by Chief Justice Saburo Tokura, decided not to apply the 20-year statute of limitations for damages claims, a focal point of the case. It effectively handed total victory to the plaintiffs.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt July 1, 2024 Number of comments0
2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake COVID-19 Disability Elderly Japan Podcast Shog.A.I. Shimbun

The Shog-A.I. Shimbun Podcast #38: Noto Quake Death Toll to Reach 300, COVID Patient and Elderly Person Among 18 ‘Indirect Deaths’

The death toll from the January 1st Noto Peninsula earthquake in central Japan is projected to reach 300 as 18 more indirect deaths are expected to be recognized. On Tuesday, the Ishikawa prefectural government and affected municipalities held a joint meeting and were advised to recognize 18 deaths as related to the disaster.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt June 28, 2024 Number of comments0
Care Disability Japan Megumi Corporation Podcast Shog.A.I. Shimbun

The Shog-A.I. Shimbun Podcast #37: ‘Megumi’ Care Home Operator for Disabled Banned from ‘renewals of service provider designation’

Japan’s welfare ministry said Wednesday that it has decided to apply a collective responsibility system to Megumi Co. under a related law over irregularities including overcharging, banning renewals of service provider designations for all of its group homes for disabled people. The ministry notified the company and local governments concerned of the decision. The punitive action was based on the comprehensive law on support for disabled people and the decision was made to apply the joint liability system in the belief that there was organized involvement in irregularities committed by the group home operator, such as service fee overcharging.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt June 24, 2024 Number of comments0
Barrier Free Japan Podcast Shog.A.I. Shimbun

The Shog-A.I. Shimbun Podcast #36: Rainy Season Days and ‘Hostile Benches’ in Japan

Taro Igarashi is the author of “Kabobi Toshi” or “Overprotective city” published 20 years ago and in a recent interview with The Asahi Shimbun Igarashi warns how phenomena such as ‘hostile benches’ –  benches, often installed in public parks that are uncomfortable to sit on – are designed in way to discourage people from using them, that they have an “exclusionary purpose” which “has long been forgotten.”

by Michael Gillan Peckitt June 17, 2024 Number of comments0
Barrier Free Disability Japan Podcast Shog.A.I. Shimbun

The Shog-A.I. Shimbun Podcast #34: Escalator Death and Injury Incident Statistics in Japan

“[A]ccording to a survey conducted by the Consumer Affairs Agency and others, fatal accidents involving escalators were recorded at least seven times from June 2004 through March 2024.The Japan Elevator Association reported the number of accidents involving escalators was 1,550 during the two years from 2018 to 2019, which is two times higher than the number 15 years ago.”

by Michael Gillan Peckitt June 11, 2024 Number of comments0
Care Children Disability Forced Sterilization Japan Podcast Shog.A.I. Shimbun

The Shog-A.I. Shimbun Podcast #32: Japan Government to “allow” Disabled Parents to Live with Their Children

Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare has announced that it will allow disabled people to live with their children until they find a new home, in addition to its previous policy of “not expecting” disabled people to raise their children in group homes (GHs). The ministry has notified local governments nationwide in relation to the issue of disabled people undergoing sterilization procedures at GHs in Hokkaido.