In connection with the national disability pension system, Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare announced on the 6th that it has started a fact-finding investigation, including checking remaining records, following revelations that the Japan Pension Service had discarded some physicians’ assessment results used to determine eligibility for benefit payments.
A Shindo 5, Magnitude 6.2 earthquake occurred at 10:18AM on Tuesday 6th January 2026, the epicentre was Shimane prefecture and registered in most of western Japan, including here in Kobe. And yes, could ‘religious folk’ please stop approaching and grabbing Barrier Free Japan’s arm?
The use of loss prevention tags by stalkers quickly spread in Japan last year, the National Police Agency has reported. According to the NPA, police across the country gave advice to victims of stalking using those electronic tags in 592 cases between January and November 2025, up 1.6-fold from the whole of the previous year. Their misuse for stalking increased from three cases in 2021 to 113 cases in 2022, 196 cases in 2023 and 370 cases in 2024, amid small, inexpensive products becoming widely available. Many victims have discovered the tags, which are supposed to be attached to wallets and keys by the owners, affixed to their cars without their knowledge or hidden in their belongings, the NPA said.
People with disabilities in Hyogo Prefecture will hold an emergency rally in Kobe on January 24th to protest violence at residential care facilities and to call for the early realization of deinstitutionalization. The gathering was prompted by reports that a resident with intellectual and physical disabilities died after being assaulted by staff at a facility in Sanda City. Organized by the Independent Living Center ‘Ring Ring’ and co-hosted by ‘Remember 7.26 Kobe Action’, the event will feature speakers from ‘Hyogo People First’ and will focus on disability rights and the need for community-based living.
Speaking at an award ceremony recognizing contributions to the promotion of barrier-free and universal design initiatives on December 24th 2025, Prime Minister Takaichi said: “The society we aim for is an “inclusive society” in which all people, regardless of whether they have a disability or not, respect each other’s human rights and dignity, support each other, and are able to enjoy vibrant lives.”
The Unification Church backed 290 lawmakers of Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party in the 2021 House of Representatives election, according to South Korean media reports citing internal documents of the religious group. The documents also reportedly show that, after Abe was shot dead while delivering a campaign speech in 2022, the Unification Church deleted records on Tetsuya Yamagami, who is on trial for the murder.
Speaking at an award ceremony recognizing contributions to the promotion of barrier-free and universal design initiatives, Takaichi said: “The society we aim for is an “inclusive society” in which all people, regardless of whether they have a disability or not, respect each other’s human rights and dignity, support each other, and are able to enjoy vibrant lives.”
The number of deaths from indirect causes, such as deterioration of physical condition during evacuation, rose by 194 over the past year to 470, including people who died in Niigata and Toyama prefectures, which were also severely affected by the earthquake.
Akemashite Omedetou, Happy New Year from Japan! Nagasaki Prefecture reported a record 3,961 people with disabilities employed at private companies as of June 1, 2025, up 125 from the previous year, according to figures released by the Nagasaki Labour Bureau on Dec. 19, so we begin 2026 with good news about disability in Japan.
People with disabilities in Hyogo Prefecture will hold an emergency rally in Kobe on January 24th to protest violence at residential care facilities and to call for the early realization of deinstitutionalization. The gathering was prompted by reports that a resident with intellectual and physical disabilities died after being assaulted by staff at a facility in Sanda City. Organized by the Independent Living Center ‘Ring Ring’ and co-hosted by ‘Remember 7.26 Kobe Action’, the event will feature speakers from ‘Hyogo People First’ and will focus on disability rights and the need for community-based living.
Barrier Free Japan