Category: Welfare

by Michael Gillan Peckitt January 27, 2026 Number of comments0
Care Disability Japan Podcast Welfare

Gunma Issues Guidance After Death of Disabled 17-Year-Old on Outing, Cites “delay in transporting to hospital” [Podcast Episode]

Gunma Prefecture issued guidance to a social welfare corporation operating a disability support facility following an investigation into an accident in which a male high school student (17 at the time), who attended a disability support facility in Ōra Town, Gunma Prefecture, fell ill and died during a sea swimming outing. The prefecture cited a “delay in transporting him to a hospital” as a contributing factor and pointed out that countermeasures against aspiration of seawater had not been discussed, stating that “risk management was not in place.”

by Michael Gillan Peckitt January 26, 2026 Number of comments0
Care Disability Japan Welfare

Gunma Issues Guidance After Death of Disabled 17-Year-Old on Outing, Cites “delay in transporting to hospital”

Gunma Prefecture issued guidance to a social welfare corporation operating a disability support facility following an investigation into an accident in which a male high school student (17 at the time), who attended a disability support facility in Ōra Town, Gunma Prefecture, fell ill and died during a sea swimming outing. The prefecture cited a “delay in transporting him to a hospital” as a contributing factor and pointed out that countermeasures against aspiration of seawater had not been discussed, stating that “risk management was not in place.”

by Michael Gillan Peckitt January 21, 2026 Number of comments0
Disability Japan Podcast Welfare

Tokyo Opposes Cuts to Disability Welfare Fees [Podcast Episode]

On December 23 last year, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government submitted a request to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare and the Children and Families Agency regarding the June 2026 interim revision of disability welfare service fees, calling on them not to implement a nationwide reduction in basic compensation for newly established providers of certain services.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt January 19, 2026 Number of comments0
Disability Japan Welfare

Japan Probes Disability Pension Reviews After 61 Cases Shifted to Non-Payment

Japan’s Health, Labour and Welfare Ministry has begun investigating the handling of disability pension assessments after it emerged that some decisions were changed following re-evaluations requested by Japan Pension Service staff. The ministry reported that over the roughly three months since October last year, 61 cases were revised from payment to non-payment or suspension after reassessment, while 120 cases were changed from non-payment to payment. Disability pension eligibility is determined by physicians commissioned by the pension service, but media reports prompted concerns that staff-initiated re-evaluations could overturn initial approvals. An interim probe found that reassessments accounted for about 1% of all cases since fiscal 2024, and while some original assessment documents had previously been discarded, the ministry said it has found no evidence so far of intentional non-payment.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt January 17, 2026 Number of comments0
Disability Japan Welfare

Japan to Cut Disability Service Provider Fees, Tokyo Raises Concerns

Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare has decided to make an extraordinary revision to disability welfare service fees in June 2026, cutting basic fees for newly established providers of four services, including Continuous Employment Support (Type B), for fiscal 2026 only, while leaving fees for existing providers unchanged. The ministry says the move is intended to curb rising disability welfare expenditures, but concerns have been raised that it could discourage new entrants and worsen service shortages, particularly in underserved areas. The Tokyo Metropolitan Government has opposed the plan, formally requesting that the health ministry and the Children and Families Agency reconsider the nationwide reduction, warning that changing fee policy during its 2024–2026 service development plan could disrupt service provision and limit access for people with disabilities.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt January 12, 2026 Number of comments0
Disability Employment Japan Welfare

Procurement From Japan’s Disability Employment Facilities Hit Record High in FY2024

Japan’s public-sector procurement of goods and services from facilities employing people with disabilities reached a record high in fiscal 2024, the Health, Labour and Welfare Ministry said, reflecting growing use of the priority procurement system aimed at promoting the economic independence of people with disabilities.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt January 9, 2026 Number of comments0
Care Disability Japan Podcast Welfare

Medical Foundation Ends Disability Support Services in Miura City after Mayor’s Social Media Remarks [Podcast Episode]

It was learned on January 6th that the medical corporation foundation “Aoyama-kai” has decided to end two disability consultation support services under contract with the city at the end of March and has notified the city. The relationship of trust with the city was damaged by Mayor Kaichi Deguchi’s social media posts during last year’s mayoral election and the subsequent response, and the foundation has decided that continuing the services any longer is difficult.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt January 8, 2026 1
Care Disability Japan Medical Social Media Welfare

Medical Foundation Ends Disability Support Services in Miura City after Mayor’s Social Media Remarks

It was learned on the 6th that the medical corporation foundation “Aoyama-kai” has decided to end two disability consultation support services under contract with the city at the end of March and has notified the city. The relationship of trust with the city was damaged by Mayor Kaichi Deguchi’s social media posts during last year’s mayoral election and the subsequent response, and the foundation has decided that continuing the services any longer is difficult. The city is considering countermeasures for April and beyond to avoid impacting users.