Latest Posts

by Michael Gillan Peckitt August 7, 2024 Number of comments0
Disability Japan Para Sports Paralympics Paris 2024 Summer Paralympic Games

Paris-bound Japan para archer ordered to pay damages for defamation

A Japanese court on Tuesday ordered an archer bound for the upcoming Paris Paralympics to pay damages of around 1.24 million yen ($8,600) to a fellow athlete for posting defamatory comments on her blog during qualification for the 2021 Tokyo Games. According to the ruling handed down by the Tokyo District Court, Chika Shigesada, 41, anonymously posted comments on plaintiff Asako Onodera’s blog such as “Don’t struggle too much in vain,” and “Aren’t you breaking the rules?” in January 2021 while both were taking part in qualification for the games that year.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt August 6, 2024 Number of comments0
Care Disability Group Homes (GH) Japan Megumi Corporation

After ‘Group Home’ Scandal, Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare to “examine definition” to clarify situation of people waiting for admission to facilities for people with disabilities

Regarding the issue of people nationwide on waiting lists due to a lack of vacancies in residential facilities and group homes (GHs) for people with disabilities, the Health, Labor and Welfare Minister Keizo Takemi expressed his intention to clarify the actual situation of those on the waiting list at a press conference on July 23rd. In a survey conducted by NHK, which received responses from 47 prefectures and 696 cities, wards, towns and villages, which account for 40% of the total, it was found that a total of 22,000 people were on the waiting list for facilities and GHs.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt August 5, 2024 Number of comments0
Disability Forced Sterilization Japan Podcast Shog.A.I. Shimbun

The Shog-A.I. Shimbun Podcast #50: 1st Plaintiff, Sumiko Nishi, Reaches Settlement in Forced Sterilization Lawsuits in Japan

The settlement in the suit filed by Sumiko Nishi, 77, of Hino, Tokyo, was finalized in Tokyo District Court. Nishi, who has cerebral palsy, was subjected to sterilization without consent at around 14 years old. Nishi’s legal team says the government agreed to pay more than 16 million yen, or about 106,000 dollars, for the compensation, legal fees and other costs. She filed a lawsuit against the government in September 2022 for damages of 30 million yen, citing severe mental anguish from the surgery.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt August 3, 2024 Number of comments0
Coronavirus COVID-19 Japan

Number of COVID-19 patients increases for 12 consecutive weeks, Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare Reports

According to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, the number of COVID-19 patients reported from approximately 5,000 medical institutions nationwide in the week up to the 28th of last month increased by 4,669 from the previous week to 72,003. In addition, the average number of patients per medical institution was 14.58, 1.07 times the previous week. This is the 12th consecutive week of increase from the previous week.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt August 2, 2024 Number of comments0
Alzheimer’s Dementia Health Japan

Japan set to approve Lilly’s donanemab to treat Alzheimer’s disease

A Japanese health ministry panel gave the green light Thursday for the manufacture and sale of the Alzheimer’s drug donanemab-azbt, developed by U.S. pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly and Co.

After the soon-to-come formal approval by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, the drug, under the brand name Kisunla, will become the second medicine available in Japan for treating early symptomatic Alzheimer’s disease. The drug works by removing accumulated amyloid beta proteins in the brain, slowing the progress of the disease.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt August 1, 2024 Number of comments0
Disability Eugenics Forced Sterilization Headquarters for the Promotion of Measures toward the Realization of a Coexisting Society Free from Prejudice and Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities Japan Podcast

The Shog-A.I. Shimbun Podcast #49: Japan’s PM Kishida Vows to “eradicate prejudice and discrimination against people with disabilities”

On July 29th, Prime Minister Kishida held the first meeting of the Headquarters for the Promotion of Measures toward the Realization of a Coexisting Society Free from Prejudice and Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities at the Prime Minister’s Official Residence.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt July 31, 2024 1
Disability Eugenics Forced Sterilization Japan

1st Plaintiff, Sumiko Nishi, Reaches Settlement in Forced Sterilization Lawsuits in Japan

A plaintiff in a damages lawsuit over forced sterilizations conducted under Japan’s now-defunct eugenic protection law reached a settlement Wednesday with the government, the first such resolution among similar lawsuits filed across the country. The settlement in the suit filed by Sumiko Nishi, 77, of Hino, Tokyo, was finalized in Tokyo District Court. Nishi, who has cerebral palsy, was subjected to sterilization without consent at around 14 years old. Nishi’s legal team says the government agreed to pay more than 16 million yen, or about 106,000 dollars, for the compensation, legal fees and other costs. She filed a lawsuit against the government in September 2022 for damages of 30 million yen, citing severe mental anguish from the surgery.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt July 31, 2024 1
Eugenics Forced Sterilization Headquarters for the Promotion of Measures toward the Realization of a Coexisting Society Free from Prejudice and Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities Japan

PM Kishida Holds First Meeting of “Headquarters” That Will “eradicate prejudice and discrimination against people with disabilities and eugenics”

PM Kishida stated: “we must make this into a headquarters that will eradicate prejudice and discrimination against people with disabilities and eugenics. We believe that it is society’s responsibility to remove the social barriers that people with disabilities face, and that the entire society must change. This is why we have established this headquarters, which includes not only the ministries and agencies that oversee administration for people with disabilities and disabled children, but all other ministries and agencies, and which includes all ministers as members. The government will work together as one to eradicate prejudice and discrimination against people with disabilities and eugenics. I ask all ministers to understand the importance of this headquarters and to cooperate with it.”