In August, it was discovered that there was a suspicion that a staff member assaulted a resident at a facility for the disabled in Tsu City, Mie Prefecture.

According to Mie Prefecture Inaba-en, a facility for the disabled in Inaba-cho, Tsu City, there was a whistleblower report on August 25 that there was a suspicion of abuse. It was shown how to assault an adult resident with a disability.

Episode Notes:

https://barrierfreejapan.com/2023/08/31/left-in-a-pickup-truck-disabled-person-calls-facility-on-his-cell-phone-asking-to-be-dropped-off/

https://barrierfreejapan.com/2023/09/01/staff-member-at-a-mie-facility-for-the-disabled-assaults-resident-confirmed-by-security-camera-another-staff-member-has-also-committed-psychological-abuse/

A group of legislators with disabilities requested on Aug. 21 that Nagoya Mayor Takashi Kawamura consider installing an elevator going up to Nagoya Castle’s top floor, as the city aims to replace the current reinforced concrete castle keep with a wooden structure true to the building’s roots.

The group consisting of disabled National Diet and local assembly members from across the country, whose name translates to “the network to promote independence and political participation of people with disabilities,” met with Kawamura.

Episode Notes: https://barrierfreejapan.com/2023/08/29/legislators-with-disabilities-request-elevator-be-installed-to-nagoya-castles-top-floor/

Japanese Princess Kako attended the 40th national high school sign language speech contest held in Tokyo on Sunday 27th August 2023

“I strongly hope that a society where everyone can have a wider range of choices will be created,” the princess, the second daughter of Crown Prince Akishino and Crown Princess Kiko, said using sign language. Princess Kako gave applause to each of the 10 high school students who joined the event.

This is the second time that Princess Kako has attended the contest on her own.

Episode Notes: https://barrierfreejapan.com/2023/08/27/japans-princess-kako-attends-high-school-sign-language-speech-contest/

A survey by the Tokyo-based recruiting firm ‘Leverages’ found that 26% of people with disabilities who are working took “more than a year” to find their first job. 42% of those who answered “more than a year” were intellectually disabled, the highest percentage by disability.

Episode Notes: https://barrierfreejapan.com/2023/08/26/survey-by-tokyo-recruiting-firm-finds-people-with-intellectual-disabilities-struggle-to-find-jobs/

As early as 20th November 2019, disability groups in Kyushu, specifically disability groups in Oita Prefecture had concerns about ‘unmanned stations’, although protest rallies were held as long ago as late September 2018. In November 2019, it was reported that a“civic group made up of people with disabilities and supporters will file a lawsuit seeking compensation from the Oita District Court.”  Since 2020, more wheelchair users and other parties have filed numerous lawsuits with the Oita District Court, claiming that their constitutionally protected right to freedom of movement is being infringed.

Episode Notes: https://barrierfreejapan.com/2023/08/24/unmanned-stations-prompts-disability-groups-in-japan-to-worry-about-freedom-of-movement/

Nagano prefecture has taken administrative action to revoke the designation of a corporation operating an employment support facility for persons with disabilities in Ueda City, on the grounds that it had repeatedly abused several users. This is the first time that the prefecture has revoked the designation of a business that provides support to persons with disabilities.

Episode Notes: https://barrierfreejapan.com/2023/08/22/in-first-for-the-prefecture-nagano-government-revokes-designated-status-of-company-providing-employment-support-for-disabled-over-abuse/

In response to a Japanese Diet investigation into the issue of forced sterilization of persons with disabilities under the former Eugenic Protection Law (1948-96), 26 prefectures submitted ‘blacked out’ documents to the Japanese Diet, according to an interview with the Research Bureau of the House of Representatives and local governments.

Episode Notes: https://barrierfreejapan.com/2023/08/20/twenty-six-prefectures-in-japan-blacked-out-information-on-former-eugenics-protection-law-victims/

Through the OriHime sponsored Disability Equality Training meeting, all participants will discuss diversity and coexistence with “disability” as an entry point, think about it, and connect it to action to realize diversity and coexistence.

Episode Notes: https://barrierfreejapan.com/2023/08/17/worlds-first-even-a-bedridden-person-with-a-disability-can-become-a-facilitator-with-the-alter-ego-robot-robotics-company-orihime-sponsors-disability-equality-training/

Typhoon Lan, or the 7th typhoon of the 2023 Typhoon Season ‘did its thing’ here in Kansai on Tuesday 15th August 2023. In the episode notes is a link to a YouTube video showing what it looked like in my corner of Kobe.

Episode Notes: https://youtu.be/to18uph7p8M

Typhoon 7 ‘Lan’ is due to make landfall on Honshu, Japan sometime on Tuesday 15th August 2023.

It may seem odd, but in my experience, most typhoons are best experienced through the sound of the wind and rain, rather than the visual; or at least it is not a good idea to go outside (much) if the visual would be more interesting!

What you are hearing is from Monday 13th August 2023 to 4PM Monday 14th August 2023.