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by Michael Gillan Peckitt May 14, 2024 Number of comments0
Elderly End of Life Care Japan

Around 68,000 elderly die alone in Japan annually: police

About 68,000 people aged 65 and over in Japan are estimated to die alone at home unnoticed annually, data collected by the National Police Agency indicated Tuesday.

Preliminary police figures showed 21,716 people nationwide died “lonely deaths” from January to March. Nearly 80 percent of that number, or 17,034 people, were aged 65 and over.

The police agency is expected to continue collecting the data as part of government efforts to tackle the issue, as the country is grappling with a rapidly greying society.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt May 14, 2024 Number of comments0
Cancer Health Japan

Kidney Cancer Mutation Found in 70 Pct of Japan Patients: Study

A unique genetic mutation was found in more than 70 pct of certain kidney cancer patients in Japan, a higher percentage than in other countries, an international team of researchers said Tuesday. 

Its cause is unclear, and there is a high possibility that unknown carcinogenic factors are involved, said the team of researchers, including from the National Cancer Center Japan. The finding was published in the British science journal Nature on May 1.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt May 13, 2024 Number of comments0
2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake Disability Disasters Earthquake Elderly Japan

As society ages, Japan faces challenge in helping vulnerable people in disasters [Mainichi Shimbun Editorial]

How can we support the lives of elderly evacuees in disaster-affected areas? This is a challenge that Japan faces as a whole as its population ages.

Four months have passed since the Noto Peninsula Earthquake in central Japan. In the Okunoto region that was hit directly by the quake, close to half of the residents are seniors. Elderly care facilities that have supported the welfare of local residents also sustained major damage.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt May 12, 2024 Number of comments0
Disability Japan Media Podcast Shog.A.I. Shimbun TV Drama

The Shog-A.I. Shimbun Podcast #26: Japan’s NHK Drama ‘Percent’ Highlights Issues About How Disability is Depicted

The NHK TV concerns Mirai (Miku, Marika Ito) who joins a TV station because she admires their drama production, and one day, her project is accepted for the first time. Her joy is short-lived, however, when her programming manager Fujitani (Satoshi Hashimoto) tells her to change the character of her main character to a person with a disability in a special drama for “Diversity Month.” Although she is confused, she begins to interview, during which she meets Haru (Yui Wago), a high school student in a wheelchair. She feels a strange attraction towards Haru, but she rejects her, saying, “She doesn’t want her disability to be taken advantage of.”

by Michael Gillan Peckitt May 9, 2024 Number of comments0
Abuse Care Disability Hospitals Japan Podcast Sexual abuse Shog.A.I. Shimbun

The Shog-A.I. Shimbun Podcast #25: Fukuoka Prefecture Hospital says sorry for male staff sexually abusing patients, no further action taken

The president of National Hospital Organization Omuta National Hospital apologized on May 2 after confirming that male employees sexually abused patients who have severe mental and physical disabilities. The hospital has not taken any administrative action against the five employees who are suspected of abuse. The employees abused patients by stimulating their pubic areas while they were sleeping or being assisted in the bath, and touching female patients’ breasts.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt May 7, 2024 Number of comments0
Coronavirus COVID-19 Disability Japan Pandemic

Anti-Infection Measures Still Needed in Japan 1 Year after COVID Downgrade

In line with the COVID-19 downgrade in May 2023, Japan stopped counting all COVID-19 cases nationwide and began receiving COVID-19 case reports from about 5,000 designated medical institutions.

According to the health ministry, the number of COVID-19 cases reported in the week through April 21 declined for the 11th consecutive week.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt May 6, 2024 Number of comments0
developmental disabilities Health Japan Tokyo

Tokyo Metropolitan Government Increases Consultations for Developmental Disabilities Support, Offering On-site Consultations in Tama Area

In response to an increase in the number of consultations with the Tokyo Metropolitan Government’s office on developmental disabilities, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government’s support center will begin offering on-site consultations in the Tama region this month. This month, there are 17 days for those under 18 and 31 days for those 18 and older, and up to three groups per day can be consulted if reservations are made by phone or e-mail by 3:00 p.m. on the day before the on-site consultation is scheduled.