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by Michael Gillan Peckitt August 11, 2025 Number of comments0
Disasters Japan

(Update) Heavy Rain Emergency Warning Briefly Issued for Parts of Kumamoto

The Japan Meteorological Agency issued a heavy rain emergency warning to parts of Kumamoto Prefecture, southwestern Japan, temporarily on Monday, calling on residents to secure their safety immediately.The agency first issued the warning to the city of Tamana and the town of Nagasu at 12:20 a.m. and later expanded it to include the cities of Yatsushiro, Uki, Kamiamakusa and Amakusa and the town of Hikawa.The emergency warning was downgraded to a heavy rain warning for all areas at 3:45 p.m. after the intensity of the rain waned.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt August 11, 2025 Number of comments0
Disability Hospitals Japan Medical Technology

Osaka Hospital Hit by Cyberattack on Electronic Medical Record System Reaches ¥1 Billion Settlement with Contractors

In October 2022, the hospital was hit by a cyberattack using ransomware, which caused a system failure. Electronic medical records essential for medical care became unusable, forcing the suspension of new outpatient admissions and surgeries. The Osaka Acute and General Medical Center (Sumiyoshi Ward, Osaka City) announced on August 8th that it has reached a settlement in which three private contractors, whose systems served as the entry point for a virus, will pay the hospital ¥1 billion in connection with a cyberattack in 2022 that disrupted its electronic medical record system.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt August 11, 2025 Number of comments0
Barrier Free Disability Discrimination Japan Nagoya Podcast Tourism

Discriminatory Comments Over Nagoya Castle Accessibility Towards Wheelchair User Prompts Mayor to Apologize [Podcast Episode]

Nagoya Mayor Hirosawa has apologized to disability groups for discriminatory comments made at a June 2023 public forum on barrier-free access in the planned wooden reconstruction of Nagoya Castle’s main keep. At the meeting, a wheelchair user’s request for an elevator was met with remarks such as “endure it” and “don’t confuse equality with selfishness,” along with a derogatory term, drawing applause from some attendees. Then-Mayor Kawamura and city officials present did not intervene, prompting public outrage. Following a review, the city pledged human rights training for staff, formal apologies, and measures to prevent a recurrence. Hirosawa said the city will work to balance historical authenticity with accessibility in the reconstruction plan.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt August 10, 2025 Number of comments0
Disability Disasters Elderly Japan Podcast

Heavy Rain in Southwestern Japan, Flood Damage Assessment Underway [Podcast Episode]

Officials of Kirishima City in the southwestern prefecture of Kagoshima, Japan, where many homes were flooded due to record rain on Friday, have begun inspecting the damage caused by the downpour. In the city, heavy rain emergency warnings were issued temporarily on Friday and many homes suffered flood damage. But details, such as the number of affected houses, are not yet known. A resident in his 70s whose home was flooded above the floor level said, “When I looked outside, the water came up to the height of my chest.”
He added, “I took a day off from work on Friday to dispose of furniture that was submerged in water.” A Kirishima city official says they will conduct a thorough inspection so that affected homes can be quickly restored. The inspections will continue on Sunday.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt August 9, 2025 1
Barrier Free Disability Discrimination Japan Nagoya

Discriminatory Comments Over Nagoya Castle Accessibility Towards Wheelchair User Prompts Mayor to Apologize

Nagoya Mayor Hirosawa has apologized to disability groups for discriminatory comments made at a June 2023 public forum on barrier-free access in the planned wooden reconstruction of Nagoya Castle’s main keep. At the meeting, a wheelchair user’s request for an elevator was met with remarks such as “endure it” and “don’t confuse equality with selfishness,” along with a derogatory term, drawing applause from some attendees. Then-Mayor Kawamura and city officials present did not intervene, prompting public outrage. Following a review, the city pledged human rights training for staff, formal apologies, and measures to prevent a recurrence. Hirosawa said the city will work to balance historical authenticity with accessibility in the reconstruction plan.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt August 9, 2025 Number of comments0
Blind Disability Japan Travel

23,000 Sign Petition Demanding Safety Reforms After Death of Blind Woman at JR Tsukumi Station

A disability rights group has submitted over 23,000 signatures to JR Kyushu, urging an investigation and stronger safety measures following the death of a visually impaired woman at Tsukumi Station in Ōita Prefecture three years ago. The woman was struck by a limited express train during unstaffed hours in December 2022. The group, comprising people with visual and physical disabilities, also delivered a written statement reflecting concerns from visually impaired passengers. During a meeting at JR Kyushu’s Ōita branch, members called for clear rescue protocols for falls from platforms. Co-representative lawyer Yasuyuki Tokuda urged JR to take the voices of disabled passengers seriously.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt August 9, 2025 Number of comments0
Mobility Osaka Kansai Expo 2025 Wheelchair

Futuristic Mobility Scooter for Elderly Demonstrated at Osaka Expo; Automated Operation Eyed

An electric mobility scooter was demonstrated at the 2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo in Osaka on Tuesday 29th July. The Waku Mobi is about 1.7 meters long and about 60 centimeters wide and has a top speed of 20 kph. Reporters were shown the vehicle being remotely controlled in a designated outdoor space at the Expo. It moved slowly for about 50 meters, then navigated an uneven surface and made a smooth turn using its automated control function. The demonstration was part of an exhibition themed on a future in which robots and humans coexist. The vehicle was developed by glafit inc., a startup based in Wakayama.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt August 8, 2025 Number of comments0
Care Disability Elderly Japan Nursing Care Podcast

Japan to Launch Public Support System for Elderly Living Alone; Hospitalization, Nursing Homes, Funeral Arrangements Covered [Podcast Episode]

The Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry is considering creating a new framework to support elderly people who live alone and have no relatives they can depend on. The framework would cover hospital admission, entry into nursing homes and post-mortem procedures such as funerals. The ministry aims to launch the program in fiscal 2027 with an eye toward revising the Social Welfare Law next year.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt August 7, 2025 Number of comments0
Alzheimer’s Health Japan Medical

Japan OKs Price Cut for Alzheimer’s Drug Lecanemab

A Japanese health ministry panel Wednesday approved a plan to cut the price of Lecanemab, an Alzheimer’s drug codeveloped by Japanese drugmaker Eisai Co. and U.S. industry peer Biogen Inc., by 15 pct in Japan starting Nov. 1. The price of the drug will be lowered to 97,277 yen for a 500-milligram bottle. Dosages are based on weight. For example, a patient weighing 50 kilograms would see an annual cost reduction from about 2.98 million yen to about 2.53 million yen.