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by Michael Gillan Peckitt July 24, 2024 Number of comments0
2024 Paris Summer Olympics Japan Para Sports Paralympics Paris 2024 Summer Paralympic Games Sports

Yukinobu Ike ready to lead Japan to wheelchair rugby gold at Paris 2024

Three years after finishing the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games with a bronze medal, Japan wheelchair rugby captain Yukinobu Ike is ready to lead his team to the top of the podium at Paris 2024. It took Japan wheelchair rugby captain Yukinobu Ike six months to watch recordings of his matches from the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, and it took him another six months for him to put the semifinal defeat behind him. “I competed at Tokyo 2020, thinking this was the only opportunity for Japan to win the gold medal. I believed it was the only time I could ever win gold in my life,” said Ike, a two-time Paralympic bronze medallist. “It was very shocking to miss out on that medal.” Three years later, Ike is preparing to lead his team at the Paris 2024 Paralympics, where he wants to realise his dream winning a gold medal.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt July 22, 2024 1
Disability Eugenics Forced Sterilization Japan

Cabinet Council to be established to eradicate discrimination against people with disabilities after ruling deeming former Eugenic Protection Law unconstitutional

Following the Supreme Court ruling that the former Eugenic Protection Law, which forced sterilization on the grounds of disability, was unconstitutional, the government has decided to create a new council with all cabinet members as members to eradicate discrimination against people with disabilities. It will be launched within this week and its first meeting will be held within the month. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said at a press conference on the 22nd, “We would like to proceed with preparations to establish the council as soon as possible.”

by Michael Gillan Peckitt July 22, 2024 Number of comments0
Disability Eugenics Forced Sterilization Japan Podcast Shog.A.I. Shimbun

The Shog-A.I. Shimbun Podcast #45: Forced Sterilization Plaintiff Kikuo Kojima Speaks About Being Told “it would be terrible if people like you had children”

Kikuo Kojima, 83, of Sapporo was put up for adoption soon after his birth. He contracted polio, leaving him with a disabled right leg for which he was bullied. At age 19, when he was leading a desolate life, he was forced to undergo sterilization.

Kojima was handcuffed by a police officer in front of his home and put into a psychiatric hospital in Sapporo. It was one-sidedly determined that he was mentally ill, and when he was sterilized, a nurse told him that this had to be done “since it would be terrible if people like you had children.”

by Michael Gillan Peckitt July 21, 2024 Number of comments0
Health Japan Nursing Care Politics

Japan, China Top Health Officials Agree to Promote Cooperation

Japanese Health, Labor and Welfare Minister Keizo Takemi and Lei Haichao, head of China’s National Health Commission, met in Beijing on Friday and agreed to promote cooperation in the areas of medical and nursing care services. 

Takemi and Lei also discussed measures to deal with population aging, a common challenge facing their countries.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt July 20, 2024 Number of comments0
Disability Eugenics Forced Sterilization Japan

Forced Sterilization Plaintiff Kikuo Kojima says he was told “it would be terrible if people like you had children”

Among the victorious plaintiffs is Kikuo Kojima, 83, of Sapporo. He was put up for adoption soon after his birth. He contracted polio, leaving him with a disabled right leg for which he was bullied. At age 19, when he was leading a desolate life, he was forced to undergo sterilization.
Kojima was handcuffed by a police officer in front of his home and put into a psychiatric hospital in Sapporo. It was one-sidedly determined that he was mentally ill, and when he was sterilized, a nurse told him that this had to be done “since it would be terrible if people like you had children.”

by Michael Gillan Peckitt July 20, 2024 Number of comments0
Disability Eugenics Forced Sterilization Japan

Co-leader of Forced Sterilization Plaintiffs, Koji Niisato Views Apology from Kishida as having “reached one of our goals.”

Speaking at a press conference held in Tokyo after the meeting, Koji Niisato said, in a trembling voice, “We’ve made it this far at last. It’s taken so long. But now that we’ve gotten an apology from the prime minister, I think we have reached one of our goals.”

by Michael Gillan Peckitt July 19, 2024 Number of comments0
Disability Eugenics Forced Sterilization Japan Podcast Shog.A.I. Shimbun

The Shog-A.I. Shimbun Podcast #44: Japan’s PM Kishida Apologizes Directly to Forced Sterilization Victims for “inexcusable violation of human rights”

In front of more than 130 plaintiffs, lawyers and supporters, Kishida said, “It is with deep regret that at least 25,000 people have suffered the grave harm of being sterilized,” under the eugenics law, which was in effect between 1948 and 1996.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt July 17, 2024 1
Disability Eugenics Forced Sterilization Japan

Japan’s PM Kishida Apologizes Directly to Forced Sterilization Victims for “inexcusable violation of human rights”

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Wednesday apologized directly to victims of forced sterilizations conducted under the now-defunct eugenic protection law.

At a meeting with the victims held at the Prime Minister’s Office Kishida said: “The government’s responsibility is extremely serious, I am sincerely sorry.”