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by Michael Gillan Peckitt January 23, 2025 Number of comments0
Disability Forced Sterilization Japan

Japan PM Ishiba on Forced Sterilization: “We must not repeat human rights violations that destroy the dignity of individuals” [Podcast Episode]

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has stressed the government’s resolve to steadily pay compensation to victims of forced sterilization conducted under the country’s now-defunct eugenics law. “The government’s responsibility is extremely grave, and I sincerely reflect on it and apologize again to you from the bottom of my heart,” he said.

“We must not repeat human rights violations that destroy the dignity of individuals,” Ishiba said.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt January 22, 2025 Number of comments0
Barrier Free Deaf Hearing Impaired Japan

(Update) In Legal First, Court Awards ¥43 million ‘Lost Earning’ to Parents of Hearing Impaired Daughter

The court ordered the payment of about ¥43 million (around $227,000), equivalent to that of a nondisabled person, stating that there was “no reason to reduce the amount from the average of all workers” on lost earnings that the victim would have been able to earn in the future. The family had sought ¥61 million.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt January 22, 2025 1
Deaf Disability Hearing Impaired Japan Podcast

Osaka High Court Rules ‘Lost Earnings’ After Death of Eleven Year Old Hearing-Impaired Girl Should be Same as Able-Bodied Person [Podcast Episode]

In a lawsuit concerning the death of Ayuka Ide (then aged 11), who was born with a hearing impairment, and who was hit by a piece of heavy machinery seven years ago, the Osaka High Court changed the ruling of the first trial and allowed the payment of the same amount as a healthy person in the appeal trial judgment on the calculation of ‘lost earnings’ that could have been earned in the future. Although the lost earnings of disabled children have been reduced to a certain extent, it is unusual for a judicial decision to recognise the same amount. The high court judgement determined that Ayuka Ide ‘was able to work in the same workplace as able-bodied people’.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt January 21, 2025 1
Deaf Hearing Impaired Japan

In Unusual Legal Ruling in Japan, After Death of Hearing Impaired Girl, Osaka High Court Finds “Lost Earnings” of Disabled Girl Equal to that of a “Healthy Person”

In a lawsuit concerning the death of Ayuka Ide (then aged 11), who was born with a hearing impairment, and who was hit by a piece of heavy machinery seven years ago, the Osaka High Court changed the ruling of the first trial and allowed the payment of the same amount as a healthy person in the appeal trial judgment on the calculation of ‘lost earnings’ that could have been earned in the future. Although the lost earnings of disabled children have been reduced to a certain extent, it is unusual for a judicial decision to recognise the same amount. The high court judgement determined that Ayuka Ide ‘was able to work in the same workplace as able-bodied people’.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt January 20, 2025 Number of comments0
Infectious Diseases Japan

Japan Minister Declares Unusual Situation over Bird Flu

Japanese agriculture minister Taku Eto said Monday that the country is in an unusual situation over the current spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza. “The situation has become unusual,” Eto told an emergency meeting of prefectural governments and industry groups on the day. This month alone, there have been 23 outbreaks, resulting in the culling of about 4.18 million birds. This has already surpassed the 19 outbreaks in January of the 2022-2023 season, which was the country’s worst bird flu season on record. In January of that season, 4.63 million birds were destroyed.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt January 20, 2025 Number of comments0
Disability Infectious Diseases Japan

More Avian Flu Cases Found in Japan; 1.44 M. Birds to Be Culled

The Aichi prefectural government said Sunday that outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza have been confirmed at three chicken farms and a quail farm in the central Japan prefecture. The prefectural government of Chiba, east of Tokyo, the same day announced avian flu cases at three chicken farms in the cities of Choshi and Asahi.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt January 20, 2025 Number of comments0
Disability Disasters Earthquake Elderly Japan Typhoon

Japan sees 5,400 deaths from post-disaster fatigue, stress since 1995

More than 5,400 people died in Japan over the past 30 years due to severe stress and exhaustion caused by evacuation following earthquakes and other natural disasters, according to a recent tally by Kyodo News. At least 5,456 “disaster-related deaths” have been recognized since local governments began such designation following the Great Hanshin Earthquake in western Japan on Jan. 17, 1995, with the figure including deaths linked to the Noto Peninsula quake last year.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt January 19, 2025 Number of comments0
Disability Infectious Diseases Influenza Japan

As weekly influenza cases average at alert level in 40 prefectures in Japan, facilities for people with disabilities struggle

As influenza and COVID-19 infections spread, facilities for people with disabilities are also struggling to respond. Facilities for people with severe intellectual disabilities have found it difficult to take precautions, and there have been cases of infections spreading among users and staff.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt January 18, 2025 Number of comments0
Disability Disasters Earthquake Japan Nankai Trough

Japan Raises Nankai Trough Megaquake Probability to Some 80 Percent

The Japanese government’s Earthquake Research Committee has increased its assessed probability of an earthquake with a magnitude of 8 to 9 occurring along the Nankai Trough off the country’s Pacific coast within the next 30 years to some 80 pct from 70-80 pct, officials said. When a 6.6-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Miyazaki Prefecture, southwestern Japan, on Monday, the panel at the time concluded that Monday’s earthquake was not a phenomenon that could be considered to have relatively increased the possibility of a Nankai Trough earthquake occurring compared with normal times.