Hirotada Ototake, who was born with a congenital condition resulting in the absence of limbs (“tetra-amelia”), quoted a post by a user who argued that support for people with mental disabilities should be prioritized over that for those with physical disabilities. He commented, “These kinds of ‘misery comparisons’ or ‘pulling each other down’ are not only meaningless, but actually counterproductive.”

Episode notes:

‘Japanese Disability Advocate Hirotada Ototake Questions Ranking Disabilities by Hierarchy in Social Media’:

https://barrierfreejapan.com/2026/05/16/japanese-disability-advocate-hirotada-ototake-questions-ranking-disabilities-by-hierarchy-in-social-media/

My beloved wrote a book about Disability!

Pre-order ‘障害と生きることの現象学: 脳性まひの身体からみえる生活世界’ by 稲原 美苗 (Minae Inahara on Amazon today!:

https://www.amazon.co.jp/障害と生きることの現象学-脳性まひの身体からみえる生活世界-稲原-美苗/dp/4582703755

A former instructor at a support organization arrested on suspicion of committing indecent acts against a woman with a developmental disability during a class told her they were “going to practice making a baby”.

Episode notes:

‘Instructor Arrested for Indecent Acts Against Woman with Developmental Disability Told Her They Were “going to practice making a baby” ’:

https://barrierfreejapan.com/2026/05/13/instructor-arrested-for-indecent-acts-against-woman-with-developmental-disability-told-her-they-were-going-to-practice-making-a-baby/

In a case where disabled persons working from home were employed by large companies through a disability employment agency but were not given any actual work, it has been revealed that “Thanks Lab” (Naha City), the agency that brokered the employment, had requested people with disabilities not to contact their employers directly in cases of absence or other issues.

It appears that some disabled persons perceived this as a “rule” of employment and were unable to communicate their situation to their employers.

The people either work at the welfare offices or from home, and Thankslab received a support fee of about ¥200,000 per person per month from client companies.

Thankslab’s clients include major corporations.

Episode notes:

‘Okinawa Company Denies Hiring People with Disabilities and Prohibiting Contact with Employer’:

https://barrierfreejapan.com/2026/05/10/okinawa-company-denies-hiring-people-with-disabilities-and-prohibiting-contact-with-employer/

‘People with Disabilities in Japan Employed via Outsourcing Business Neglected by Firms That Hired Them’ (The Japan News):

https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/society/general-news/20260510-326657/

About 10 passengers were taken to hospital after an emergency report of something being sprayed in a train car on the Tokaido Line section of the Ueno-Tokyo Line of East Japan Railway Co. at about 4:35 p.m. on Sunday 10th May.

Episode notes:

'Passengers Taken to Hospital After Spraying Incident on JR East Train':

https://barrierfreejapan.com/2026/05/11/passengers-taken-to-hospital-after-spraying-incident-on-jr-east-train/

Employees with disabilities were referred to as “talents,” and “connections between talents via chat tools, social media, etc., are prohibited,” forbidding contact with other employees with disabilities, such as colleagues. The reason given for this was that it would “lead to trouble.”

Episode notes:

‘Okinawa Company Denies Hiring People with Disabilities and Prohibiting Contact with Employer’:

https://barrierfreejapan.com/2026/05/10/okinawa-company-denies-hiring-people-with-disabilities-and-prohibiting-contact-with-employer/

According to Health, Labour, and Welfare Ministry data released on the 4th, the number of vocational training centres for the disabled where “more than half of users work from home” has surged 3.2 times over the four-year period ending in 2025. Because remote support reduces overhead costs, such as personnel expenses for on-site staff, the Ministry suspects that some profit-driven operators are abusing the system. Consequently, the Ministry issued a notice to local governments nationwide this April, calling for stricter oversight.

Episode notes:

‘Japan Labour Ministry Suspects Abuse of Remote Work Systems for People with Disabilities as Use Triples':

https://barrierfreejapan.com/2026/05/05/japan-labour-ministry-suspects-abuse-of-remote-work-systems-for-people-with-disabilities-as-use-triples/

After a man with disabilities went missing from a ‘Group Home’ in Tokyo recently, the Tokyo Metropolitan Police requested information from the public then later took the request down from the Internet. I’m sure the man has been found, but I offer some thoughts on the differences between Britain and Japan with such incidences.

The city of Osaka has filed a criminal complaint against the operating company of Kizuna Holdings (HD), which had been subject to administrative sanctions for fraudulently receiving approximately 15 billion Yen in disability employment support benefits. As of May 1st 2026, Osaka city has also revoked the designation of the company’s facilities.

Episode notes:

‘Osaka city files criminal complaint against Kizuna Holdings over ¥15 billion in fraudulent disability employment support funds’:

https://barrierfreejapan.com/2026/05/03/osaka-city-files-criminal-complaint-against-kizuna-holdings-over-¥15-billion-in-fraudulent-disability-employment-support-funds/

The Japanese tabloid magazine ‘FRIDAY’ has been investigating misuse of the ‘Help Mark’, which was designed to help people with disabilities alert people of possible needs they might have.

Episode notes:

Japanese Tabloid Investigates Misuse Of Disability ‘Help Mark’ as ‘Life Hack’:

https://barrierfreejapan.com/2026/05/02/japanese-tabloid-investigates-misuse-of-disability-help-mark-as-life-hack/