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Barrier Free Disability Japan Robotics Technology

Trial event held in Miyazaki for people with disabilities with difficulties going outside in using an ‘avatar robot’

A trial event was held in Miyakonojo City to let many people know about “avatar robots,” which allow people with disabilities or other reasons to remotely control a robot to connect with society. The robot introduced was a small humanoid robot called “OriHime” equipped with a camera and microphone. People who have difficulty going out due to disabilities or serious illnesses can remotely control it to talk to people. On the 5th, a trial event was held at the Miyakonojo City Museum of Art, and “Hina,” a woman in her 20s from Miyazaki City who operates the “avatar robot,” interacted with visitors.

Crime Disability Forced Sterilization Japan Podcast

Forced Sterilization Plaintiff Yumi Suzuki Named an “Influential and inspiring woman” by the BBC [Podcast Episode]

Yumi Suzuki, one of the plaintiffs who sued the Japanese government over forced sterilization under the now-defunct eugenics protection law was selected for the BBC’s annual list of “influential and inspiring women” around the world on Tuesday 3rd December. The theme of this year’s selection was “resilience,” highlighting the women who “are pushing for change and improving lives at community or global level.”

Care Disability Japan Ukraine

Japan provides support for people with disabilities in Ukraine

Japan has provided Ukraine with rehabilitation equipment and welfare vehicles to support senior citizens and people with disabilities. The items will be delivered to 11 facilities in the Kyiv region through the Japan International Cooperation Agency. In the Kyiv region, the number of people with disabilities has risen by 14,000 since the invasion began.

Disability Forced Sterilization Japan

Forced Sterilization Plaintiff Yumi Suzuki Named an “Influential and inspiring woman” by the BBC

Yumi Suzuki, one of the plaintiffs who sued the Japanese government over forced sterilization under the now-defunct eugenics protection law was selected for the BBC’s annual list of “influential and inspiring women” around the world on Tuesday. The theme of this year’s selection was “resilience,” highlighting the women who “are pushing for change and improving lives at community or global level.”

Care Disability Japan Podcast

I Cannot Think of My Disabled Daughter as “Precious”; Children Without Disabilities are “Adorable” [Podcast Episode]

“Our older daughter, a junior high school student, has a severe intellectual disability. She is unable to take care of herself, so I have to help her with everything, including using the bathroom and bathing. She is very particular about things and often gets angry suddenly or screams nonstop for a long time. I don’t know when it happened, but I started not thinking about her as precious to me. I sometimes even wish she would go away. My son, who is in high school, and my younger daughter, an elementary school student, have no disabilities, and they’re so adorable.” [From Japan News, ‘Dear Troubleshooter’]

Blind Disability Japan Welfare

New Okinawa volunteer group established to support use of smartphones and apps by visually impaired

A new volunteer group has been established to support the use of smartphones and apps in an effort to eliminate the information gap caused by visual impairment. Izumi Yoshi, representative of the Prefectural Visually Impaired Support Center said: “We provide telephone support, but if you have any problems, please feel free to contact us.”

Health Japan My Number

(Update) Japan Government Stops Issuing New Health Insurance Cards as of Monday 2nd December 2024

The Japanese government will stop issuing new health insurance cards on Dec. 2 as planned in a move to integrate them into “My Number” electronic personal identification cards.While the government will stop issuing new health insurance cards on Monday, most people will remain unaffected by the move in the short term as existing health insurance cards can still be used for another year. People without My Number cards can still use their existing health insurance cards for their visits to hospitals, dental clinics and pharmacies during the grace period — which ends on Dec. 1, 2025 — as long as they remain valid.

Disability Intellectual disabilities Japan

I Cannot Think of my Handicapped Daughter as “Precious”; Son, Daughter Without Disabilities Are “Adorable” [Japan News, ‘Dear Troubleshooter’]

Our older daughter, a junior high school student, has a severe intellectual disability. She is unable to take care of herself, so I have to help her with everything, including using the bathroom and bathing. She is very particular about things and often gets angry suddenly or screams nonstop for a long time.

I don’t know when it happened, but I started not thinking about her as precious to me. I sometimes even wish she would go away. My son, who is in high school, and my younger daughter, an elementary school student, have no disabilities, and they’re so adorable.