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by Michael Gillan Peckitt July 25, 2026 1
Abuse Care Disability Japan Megumi Corporation

Okazaki City Sanctions Disability Facility Over Abuse; Facility Ran by Successor Company to “Megumi”

The facility is operated by Innovel Healthcare (Midori Ward, Nagoya City), which took over the operations in March 2025 from “Megumi”, a major group home operator whose license was revoked in 2024 due to issues such as overcharging for food expenses. According to the city, staff members engaged in physical violence against residents, including kicking them, and made threatening statements such as “Do it properly.” The city determined these actions constituted physical and psychological abuse.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt July 24, 2026 Number of comments0
Disability Group Homes (GH) Japan Welfare

Japan’s Welfare Ministry Introduces Guidelines to Limit Group Homes from April 2027

The Japanese government has confirmed that, from April 2027, group homes for people with disabilities will become subject to service volume controls, allowing local governments to limit the establishment of new group homes in areas deemed to have sufficient capacity. While intended to prevent an oversupply of services, the new guidelines stress that exceptions should be made for group homes serving people with intensive behavioural support needs or requiring medical care, acknowledging concerns that people with severe disabilities can still struggle to find suitable accommodation even where the overall number of group homes appears adequate. The guidelines also encourage transparent public recruitment of providers when restrictions are lifted and explain how municipalities can provide input on prefectural decisions to approve new disability service providers.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt July 23, 2026 Number of comments0
Cults Disability Japan Unification Church

Former Unification Church’s Assets at Time of Dissolution Exceeded 83.4 Billion Yen, Liquidator Announces

On the 22nd, the liquidator carrying out the liquidation process for the former Unification Church – officially known as the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification – which received a dissolution order from the Tokyo High Court in March of this year, published their fourth report submitted to the court on their website.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt July 22, 2026 Number of comments0
Disability Japan Organ Donation

Japan Startup to Seek Approval for Pig Kidney Transplants in 2029

A Japanese startup said Tuesday that it plans to file for conditional approval of pig-to-human kidney transplants in 2029. 
   PorMedTec, the startup based in Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture, south of Tokyo, plans to begin Japan’s first clinical trials of such transplants at Hokkaido University Hospital in the northernmost prefecture of Hokkaido and Shonan Kamakura General Hospital in Kanagawa as early as 2028.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt July 22, 2026 Number of comments0
developmental disabilities Disability Education Japan Podcast

As awareness increases, more than 800,000 students in Japan may have developmental disabilities [Podcast Episode]

More than 800,000 students attending public elementary and junior high schools across Japan are estimated to have developmental disabilities, according to a government survey, with experts saying the increase reflects improved recognition rather than a sudden rise in prevalence.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt July 21, 2026 Number of comments0
Disability Employment Japan

Efforts Grow in Japan to Help Disabled Thrive at Work; Smaller Businesses Struggle Due to Lack of Funds, Human Resources

The statutory employment rate for people with disabilities was raised to 2.7% from July, up from 2.5%.Fifty years have passed since such a mandatory rate was first set in 1976, and initiatives have now gone beyond merely meeting that figure to also exploring ways to maximize disabled people’s abilities and job satisfaction. Increasing the employment rate among small and medium-sized enterprises is a challenge as well. In companies with fewer than 100 employees, the employment rate for people with disabilities stands at only 1.94%, which is lower than the overall average.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt July 20, 2026 Number of comments0
Abuse Care Disability Japan Podcast

Yokohama Considers Administrative Sanctions After Alleged Improper Use of Restraints is Discovered at Disability Facility [Podcast Episode]

According to the city, when physical restraints are used, facilities are required to obtain the consent of the resident’s family and document the reasons for and methods of the restraint. The city suspects these procedures were not followed. Officials conducted an on-site inspection of the facility on July 15 and are now considering possible administrative sanctions.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt July 20, 2026 Number of comments0
Hospitals Japan Medical

Japan to Raise Caps on Out-of-Pocket Medical Expenses

Japan will raise the caps on medical expenses borne by patients as part of changes in its high-cost medical care benefit system from August that are designed to curb ballooning national medical costs. The ceilings on monthly out-of-pocket medical expenses will be raised next month and in August 2027. The total margin of increases will reach 4 pct to 38 pct, varying depending on the annual income.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt July 17, 2026 Number of comments0
Crime Hospitals Japan

Chiba Tainted-IV Murder Suspect Seen Entering Patient’s Room

At a press conference on Thursday, Tomonobu Hasegawa, director of Kashiwa Tanaka Hospital, said, “We deeply apologize” over the murder. “We will thoroughly educate all employees on ethics again,” he added. According to the hospital in the city of Kashiwa, an assistant nurse who worked the night shift with the suspect saw her several times entering and leaving the hospital room of Eiji Aita, 75, who later died.