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by Michael Gillan Peckitt October 17, 2025 Number of comments0
Abuse Care Crime Disability Japan Podcast

A Tale of Two Care Home Crimes in Japan [Podcast Episode]

In two separate incidents in Japan, vulnerable residents of care facilities tragically lost their lives under disturbing circumstances. In Ishinomaki, Miyagi Prefecture, a 38-year-old woman with disabilities died in December 2022 after suffering severe burns from overly hot bathwater during staff-assisted bathing. Three employees of the Hitakami-en facility have been referred to prosecutors for professional negligence resulting in death, as the water temperature was found to be dangerously high. Meanwhile, in Tsurugashima, Saitama Prefecture, two elderly women were found dead on October 15, hours after being discovered bleeding and unconscious in their care facility.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt October 16, 2025 1
Care Crime Disability Japan

Three Care Workers Referred to Prosecutors Over Fatal Burn Incident at Miyagi Care Facility

In December 2022, a 38-year-old female resident of a support facility for people with disabilities in Ishinomaki, Miyagi Prefecture, died after suffering severe burns during a bath assisted by staff. On October 15, police referred three employees of the “Hitakami-en” facility—a male supervisor and two female caregivers—to prosecutors on suspicion of professional negligence resulting in death. According to the facility’s accident report, although the surface temperature of the bathwater was measured at 40°C, it had not been stirred, and the actual temperature is believed to have been around 50°C. The woman was in the bath for five minutes before being transported to a hospital, where she died three days later.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt October 15, 2025 1
Crime Disability Elderly Japan

(Update) 2 Women Found Bleeding at Saitama Elderly Care Facility Die, Former Employee Arrested

Two female residents of an elderly care facility in Tsurugashima in Saitama Prefecture, north of Tokyo, were confirmed dead Wednesday morning, hours after they were found bleeding and unconscious there. At around 4:55 a.m., an emergency call from the facility reported the two women lying injured. They were taken to a hospital, where they were pronounced dead. Investigating the case as a possible murder, the Saitama prefectural police department apprehended a former facility employee in his 20s on Wednesday morning.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt October 15, 2025 Number of comments0
Disability Intellectual disabilities Japan Missing

Hachioji expands SOS network after special-needs teen’s death

The city of Hachioji in western Tokyo has expanded its SOS Network — a system used to help locate missing residents — to include people with intellectual disabilities and others in need, following the death of a 16-year-old boy last year. Previously limited to elderly residents with dementia, the program allows families to register photos and physical details of vulnerable individuals so police, transport staff, and volunteers can be alerted instantly if they go missing. The move was prompted by the case of Daijiro Kubota, who left home without his GPS-equipped phone and was later found dead in a river in Yamanashi Prefecture. His parents and local advocates urged authorities to prevent similar tragedies, leading Hachioji to broaden eligibility this summer. While over 80 percent of municipalities nationwide operate SOS networks, only a few, such as Kushiro and Sagamihara, currently cover people with intellectual disabilities.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt October 15, 2025 Number of comments0
Barrier Free Disability Japan Podcast Travel

Saitama Bus Service for People with Disabilities to Be Discontinued Due to Driver Shortage [Podcast Episode]

A long-running bus service for people with disabilities in Saitama Prefecture will be discontinued at the end of the fiscal year due to a shortage of drivers and the wider availability of lift-equipped charter buses from private operators, the prefectural government said. The Oozora-go, a 40-seat bus donated over decades by Musashino Bank, has served thousands annually since 1973, offering affordable group travel for disability organizations. Advocates have expressed disappointment, saying the service promoted social participation for people with disabilities, while Governor Motohiro Ōno said the prefecture will consider alternative measures in light of user feedback and social changes.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt October 14, 2025 Number of comments0
developmental disabilities Disability Japan

Miyako Island pesticide-linked contamination suspected amid surge in developmental disorders

The number of children diagnosed with developmental disorders has risen sharply on Miyako Island in recent years, with pesticide-related groundwater contamination suspected as a possible cause. While the issue has become a major concern among local residents, it has received little to no coverage in national media. Similar cases of groundwater, river and tap water contamination have also been reported in other parts of Japan in recent years, suggesting the problem may be more widespread.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt October 13, 2025 1
Barrier Free Disability Employment Japan Mobility as a Service Travel

Bus Service for People with Disabilities to Be Discontinued Due to Driver Shortage

A long-running bus service for people with disabilities in Saitama Prefecture will be discontinued at the end of the fiscal year due to a shortage of drivers and the wider availability of lift-equipped charter buses from private operators, the prefectural government said. The Oozora-go, a 40-seat bus donated over decades by Musashino Bank, has served thousands annually since 1973, offering affordable group travel for disability organizations. Advocates have expressed disappointment, saying the service promoted social participation for people with disabilities, while Governor Motohiro Ōno said the prefecture will consider alternative measures in light of user feedback and social changes.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt October 13, 2025 Number of comments0
Holidays Japan Podcast Sports

The ‘Supōtsu no hi’ One: Typhoons, Dementia and Matsuri! [Podcast Episode]

October 13th is ‘Sports Day’ national holiday in Japan! A Japanese government survey showed Friday that 75.8 pct of the respondents are unaware of the enactment of the country’s basic law on dementia. The result of the public opinion survey by the Cabinet Office revealed that public awareness in Japan remains low even more than a year and a half after the law’s enforcement in January 2024. Of the respondents, 16.4 pct said they are aware of the law’s enactment but do not know its content, while 4.5 pct and 1.0 pct said they know its content “to some extent” and “in detail,” respectively.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt October 12, 2025 Number of comments0
Japan Komeito Politics Sanae Takaichi

Komeito Not to Vote for Opposition PM Candidate: Saito

Komeito leader Tetsuo Saito said Sunday that his party will not vote for an opposition candidate for prime minister fielded by other parties in the upcoming parliamentary election. 
   “It’s my personal opinion, but I cannot think of writing the name of such an opposition member,” Saito said in a television program of public broadcaster NHK, or Japan Broadcasting Corp.
   Komeito on Friday ditched its 26-year-old coalition with the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, which had just elected new President Sanae Takaichi. The Diet will convene for an extraordinary session as early as Oct. 20 to pick the successor to outgoing Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba.


by Michael Gillan Peckitt October 12, 2025 Number of comments0
Japan Medical Welfare

Japan’s Medical Expenses Hit Record 48 T. Yen in Fiscal Year 2023

Japan’s national medical expenses hit a record 48.09 trillion yen in fiscal 2023, rising 3.0 percent from the previous year, the health ministry said Friday. Per capita spending also reached an all-time high of 386,700 yen, driven by an increase in influenza cases, an aging population, and the growing use of advanced medical technologies. Elderly people aged 65 or older accounted for nearly 60 percent of total costs, with per capita expenses at 797,200 yen—more than three times that of those under 65. Funding came primarily from government sources, public insurance premiums, and out-of-pocket payments by patients.