Japan’s health ministry decided on Wednesday to lift restrictions on organ donations from individuals who have stayed in Europe, a measure introduced to combat variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD). The change is expected to take effect as early as this autumn.

Episode notes:

‘Japan to Lift Organ Donation Curbs on Europe Stayers’:

https://barrierfreejapan.com/2026/04/16/japan-to-lift-organ-donation-curbs-on-europe-stayers/

A Japanese government survey in 2025 published on Tuesday 14th April showed that 4.5 pct of respondents in the country often or constantly feel lonely, up 0.2 percentage point from the previous year. The share of people who often or constantly feel lonely was higher in their 30s to 50s. The survey, conducted by the Cabinet Office in December, found that 13.7 pct said they sometimes feel lonely and 19.5 pct said they have lonely feelings once in a while.

Episode notes:

‘Government Survey Indicates 4.5 Percent in Japan Constantly Feel Lonely’:

https://barrierfreejapan.com/2026/04/14/government-survey-indicates-4-5-percent-in-japan-constantly-feel-lonely/

Tokyo police have arrested a former worker of a facility for children with disabilities in Chiba Prefecture, east of Tokyo, for an alleged indecent assault against a 5-year-old girl who attended the facility, it was learned Monday.

* Apparently 'Indecent Assault' and 'Abuse' are different types of crimes.

Episode notes:

‘Tokyo Police Arrest Ex-Child Facility Worker for Indecent Assault Against 5-Year-Old Girl with Disability’:

https://barrierfreejapan.com/2026/04/14/tokyo-police-arrest-ex-child-facility-worker-for-indecent-assault/

Masamichi Sone, the representative of a company operating facilities such as “Rapport” in Nishi Ward, Sapporo, has been arrested and referred to prosecutors. Sone is suspected of repeatedly submitting false applications to Sapporo City between 2022 and 2025, claiming to have provided employment support services for persons with disabilities despite not having appointed a qualified managing supervisor as required. He allegedly defrauded the city of approximately ¥35 million in benefit payments.

Episode notes:

'Sapporo Employment Support Agency Executive Referred to Prosecutors Over False Disability Claims':

https://barrierfreejapan.com/2026/04/12/sapporo-employment-support-agency-executive-referred-to-prosecutors-over-false-disability-claims/

Tokyo’s Toshima Ward announced on the 10th that it has revoked the designation of the childcare support service “Aton Juku – Child Development Support and After-School Day Service for Children Living with Sign Language,” after it was found to have fraudulently received approximately 58.3 million yen in benefits by concealing a staff shortage. The revocation will take effect from July 1.

Episode notes:

‘Tokyo’s Toshima Ward Revokes Designation of Deaf Child Daycare Centre Over 58.3 Million Yen Fraud, Falsified Staff Reports':

https://barrierfreejapan.com/2026/04/11/tokyos-toshima-ward-revokes-designation-of-deaf-child-daycare-centre-over-58-3-million-yen-fraud-falsified-staff-reports/

When an advocacy group for people with mental and developmental disabilities conducted a survey on employment, over 60% of respondents reported having experience with "closed employment" - working without disclosing their disability. Many cited the reason for non-disclosure as "feeling that it would lead to employment disadvantages such as dismissal or contract non-renewal.”

Episode notes:

‘60% of Workers in Japan with Mental or Developmental Disabilities Do Not Disclose Disability’:

https://barrierfreejapan.com/2026/04/09/60-of-workers-in-japan-with-mental-or-developmental-disabilities-do-not-disclose-disability/

Novel Alzheimer's therapies have been given to 19 pct of outpatients who applied for the medications, according to a recent survey at a Tokyo hospital. The lecanemab and donanemab therapies for early-stage Alzheimer's patients are now clinically available under Japan's national health insurance scheme, which curbs a sharp rise in out-of-pocket medical expenses. Despite the relatively low-cost availability, however, the drugs have eventually been administered to only 87 out of 456 applicants, the survey by a study group at the Tokyo Metropolitan Institute for Geriatrics and Gerontology showed.

Episode notes:

‘Novel Alzheimer’s Therapies Given to Less than 20 Percent of Applicants’:

https://barrierfreejapan.com/2026/04/08/novel-alzheimers-therapies-given-to-less-than-20-percent-of-applicants/

Amid support programs for the employment of people with disabilities, an unprecedented case of fraudulent benefit claims by an Osaka-based company has come to light. The total amounts to ¥15 billion, funded, of course, by taxpayers.

Episode notes:

‘Disabled Service Users at Employment Facility Exploiting Benefit Loopholes “felt something like guilt”’:

https://barrierfreejapan.com/2026/04/04/disabled-service-users-at-employment-facility-exploiting-benefit-loopholes-felt-something-like-guilt/

A recent analysis of a government report showed that nearly 500 people aged 65 and older died between fiscal 2006 and 2024 as a result of murder or abuse by family members or relatives who had been caring for them, highlighting the increasingly harsh environment surrounding in-home caregiving.

Episode notes:

‘Nearly 500 elderly killed by family caregivers in Japan in FY 2006-2024’:

https://barrierfreejapan.com/2026/04/06/__trashed-6/

Japanese health minister Kenichiro Ueno on Friday 3rd April urged the public to exercise caution as measles cases are increasing. The number of people infected with the disease in Japan this year had reached 152 as of March 22, the highest total for the same period since 2020.

Episode notes:

‘Japan Health Minister Warns about Rising Measles Cases':

https://barrierfreejapan.com/2026/04/04/japan-health-minister-warns-about-rising-measles-cases/