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by Michael Gillan Peckitt July 29, 2024 Number of comments0
Disability Japan Podcast Sagamihara Shog.A.I. Shimbun

The Shog-A.I. Shimbun Podcast #48: Despite Sympathy for People with Disabilities ‘Post-Sagamihara’, Group Homes for Disabled Often Opposed

In response to the ‘Sagamihara Stabbings’, Kanagawa Prefecture has set a goal of “realizing a society where we can live together,” placing emphasis on a shift away from welfare policies that require people with disabilities to spend their entire lives in facilities, and promoting a shift to community living. However, in reality, there are many cases where attempts to open group homes (GHs) have been met with opposition from residents and forced to abandon plans.

“We won’t let them do it unless everyone agrees.” At an information session for a GH for people with disabilities scheduled to open in Kanazawa Ward, Yokohama, residents repeatedly voiced their opposition.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt July 28, 2024 Number of comments0
Alzheimer’s Health Japan

EU Negative on Approving Eisai’s Alzheimer’s Drug Lecanemab

The European Medicines Agency has said that its committee for assessing medicines recommended “not granting a marketing authorization” to Alzheimer’s drug lecanemab.
According to the announcement by the EMA, which is under the European Union, on Friday, the committee pointed out that the effect of lecanemab, developed jointly by Japan’s Eisai Co. and U.S. drugmaker Biogen Inc., in delaying cognitive decline “does not counterbalance” the risk of serious side events, such as bleeding in the brain.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt July 27, 2024 Number of comments0
Health Japan Kobayashi Pharmaceutical Co.

Kobayashi Pharma Fails to Report Some “Beni Koji” Products

Japan’s Kobayashi Pharmaceutical Co. said Friday that it has failed to report to the health ministry some products containing its “beni koji” red fermented rice that were supplied to five companies. According to the ministry, none of the five companies’ products are marketed any longer. The ministry asked Kobayashi Pharmaceutical to report by Wednesday whether there are any beni koji-containing products subject to the reporting other than those of the five companies.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt July 26, 2024 Number of comments0
Disability Discrimination Forced Sterilization Japan Sagamihara

Japan to Form Team to End Discrimination against People with Disabilities

The Japanese government decided on Friday to set up a task force to eradicate discrimination against disabled people.

The decision followed a recent Supreme Court ruling that the former eugenic protection law, which allowed forced sterilizations of disabled people, was unconstitutional. The first meeting of the task force will be held on Monday.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt July 26, 2024 1
Assisted Living Disability Group Homes (GH) Japan Podcast Sagamihara

Eight Years Pass Since ‘Sagamihara Stabbings’ at Care Home for People with Disabilities in Japan, Group Homes for Disabled Still Often Opposed

In the early hours of July 26, 2016, a former employee of the Tsukui Yamayuri-en care home in Sagamihara, Kanagawa Prefecture, broke in and killed 19 residents between the ages of 19 and 70 with a knife, injuring 26 others. In response to the incident, Kanagawa Prefecture has set a goal of “realizing a society where we can live together,” placing emphasis on a shift away from welfare policies that require people with disabilities to spend their entire lives in facilities, and promoting a shift to community living. However, in reality, there are many cases where attempts to open group homes (GHs) have been met with opposition from residents and forced to abandon plans.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt July 25, 2024 Number of comments0
Disability Eugenics Forced Sterilization Japan Podcast Shog.A.I. Shimbun

The Shog-A.I. Shimbun Podcast #46: Japan Government to Establish Cabinet Council to Eradicate Discrimination Against People with Disabilities

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.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt July 24, 2024 Number of comments0
Care Disability Elderly Japan

Japan’s Exam for Care Workers to Be Heavily Revised as More Foreigners Sought; Test-takers Will Be Able to Pass in Parts

The government has decided to drastically revise the national exam system for certifying care workers in a bid to increase personnel in the field, particularly foreign personnel, The Yomiuri Shimbun has learned.

The planned revision will divide the exam into three parts, so that repeat test-takers will only need to sit again for the parts of the test they previously failed.

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.