A mother in Hiroshima reported that her 21-year-old autistic son was mistakenly accused of groping on a bus after failing to respond to a woman’s request to move, highlighting how individuals with developmental disabilities are often misjudged due to difficulties with communication and social cues; although the police confirmed no wrongdoing through surveillance footage, the emotional impact remains, prompting calls for greater public awareness and understanding—especially through visible aids like the “Help Mark”—to prevent such distressing incidents.

Episode Notes: 

‘“I’m in shock”: Autistic Man in Hiroshima Mistaken for Molester, Reported to Police’:

https://barrierfreejapan.com/2025/04/30/im-in-shock-autistic-man-in-hiroshima-mistaken-for-molester-reported-to-police/


“I’m in shock”: Autistic Man in Hiroshima Mistaken for Molester, Reported to Police

One year after Japan’s revised ‘Act for the Elimination of Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities’ came into effect—mandating that businesses provide reasonable accommodation to people with disabilities—surveys show that public awareness remains low, with 60% of disabled respondents unaware of the new legal obligation. Experts stress that without such awareness, meaningful dialogue and support cannot occur, and call for stronger government-led information efforts.

Episode Notes:

‘One Year After Japan’s Disability Discrimination Laws Were Revised, 60% of Disabled Are Unaware of Rights’:

https://barrierfreejapan.com/2025/04/30/one-year-after-japans-disability-discrimination-laws-were-revised-60-of-disabled-are-unaware-of-rights/


Golden Week ‘Shogai Podcast Shorts’ 1: Constitution Day

In response to a Kyodo News report that the number of people being denied Japan’s national disability pension has surged in fiscal 2024, the National Federation of Associations for the Support of Persons with Intellectual Disabilities (Zenkoku Te o Tsunagu Ikuseikai Rengōkai), which consists of individuals with intellectual disabilities and their families, issued a protest statement by May 2, saying, “If the report is true, it cannot be overlooked.” The organization is demanding that the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare verify the facts and publicly disclose the results.

Episode Notes:

‘Protest Statement Issued by Japan National Intellectual Disability Organization Over Sharp Increase in Disability Pension Denials’:

https://barrierfreejapan.com/2025/05/03/protest-statement-issued-by-japan-national-intellectual-disability-organization-over-sharp-increase-in-disability-pension-denials/



Golden Week ‘Shogai Podcast Shorts’ 2: Greenery Day

The legislation for revisions to child welfare and other laws in Japan is designed to make it easier to restrict meetings of parents with their children under the protection of child consultation centers. Following the revisions, it will be possible to place such restrictions on parents and other guardians in cases in which abuse is suspected but not yet officially recognized. This will help prevent centers from falling into trouble with parents.

Episode Notes:

‘Japan Enacts Bill to Better Protect Kids from Abuse’ (April 18 2025):

https://barrierfreejapan.com/2025/04/19/japan-enacts-bill-to-better-protect-kids-from-abuse/


Golden Week ‘Shogai Podcast Shorts’ 3: Children’s Day

The estimated number of children under 15 in Japan as of April 1 fell by 350,000 from a year before to 13.66 million, down for the 44th consecutive year, the internal affairs ministry said Sunday. The country's child population hit the lowest level since comparable data became available in 1950. The ministry released the data a day before Children's Day.

Episode Notes:

‘Japan Child Population Falls for 44th Straight Year’:

https://barrierfreejapan.com/2025/05/04/japan-child-population-falls-for-44th-straight-year/



Golden Week ‘Shogai Podcast Shorts’ 4: Greenery Day Observed

Actress Ryoko Hirosue has announced a suspension of all entertainment activities after being diagnosed with bipolar disorder and hyperthyroidism, following hospitalization in Tokyo. The announcement comes after an incident in April where she was involved in a car accident and allegedly kicked a nurse, leading to her arrest and an ongoing police investigation. Her agency confirmed that she will continue outpatient treatment and focus on her recovery, while also cooperating fully with authorities, stating they do not attribute her actions solely to her illness and are committed to responding sincerely.

Episode Notes:

‘ ‘Departures’ Actress Ryōko Hirosue Diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder, Suspends “all entertainment activities” ’:

https://barrierfreejapan.com/2025/05/05/departures-actress-ryoko-hirosue-diagnosed-with-bipolar-disorder-suspends-all-entertainment-activities/


‘Departures’ Actress Ryōko Hirosue Diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder, Suspends “all entertainment activities”

A free app developed by an Osaka company is steadily helping more disabled people around Japan avoid potential aggravations and delays when they seek special benefits and services.

Episode Notes:

‘Digital disability certificates replace vexing paper versions’:

https://barrierfreejapan.com/2025/05/08/digital-disability-certificates-replace-vexing-paper-versions/

‘Mirairo’ Website (In English): https://www.mirairo.co.jp/en/


Osaka-based Company’s ‘Digital Disability Certificate App’ Begins to Replace Paper Versions

In the wake of three employees being arrested by the Tokyo Metropolitan Police for luring a man they met through a matching app to a restaurant in Shibuya, Tokyo, forcing him to pay 1.1 million yen in cash and other charges in a scam; a man in his 20s who was a victim of the “rip-off” scam by the recently arrested group spoke to NHK. The man has a level two visual impairment and usually uses a white cane when walking outside.

Episode Notes:

‘Japan’s Disability Dating App Scammers: Man with Visual Impairment Speaks Out’:

https://barrierfreejapan.com/2025/05/17/japans-disability-dating-app-scammers-man-with-visual-impairment-speaks-out/


Japan’s Disability Dating App Scammers: Man with Visual Impairment Speaks Out

Your intelligence stopped at the third grade of elementary school" -- the rapper and comedian from ‘Sapporo’s Gag Man’ from Sapporo, (28), was told these shocking words by a teacher in the summer of his first year of junior high school. He was diagnosed with intellectual disability and panic disorder. How did his life change after his disability was discovered? Here is an excerpt from his new book, "Not Normal: Why I'm a Rapper, Even though My Intelligence Stopped in Third Grade.”

Episode Notes:

‘ “Your intelligence stopped at the third grade of elementary school” Sapporo rapper (28) with an intellectual disability writes about “the sadness of living as a disabled person” ’:

https://barrierfreejapan.com/2025/05/19/your-intelligence-stopped-at-the-third-grade-of-elementary-school-sapporo-rapper-28-with-an-intellectual-disability-writes-about-the-sadness-of-living-as-a-disabled-person/



Japanese Rapper with Intellectual Disabilities ‘Sapporo Gag Man’ Talks About “the sadness of living as a disabled person”

Japan’s Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare Takamaro Fukuoka announced that he will investigate the actual situation and make the results public in one month. The incident began with a Kyodo News report dated April 28th. The report stated that the number of people who were denied disability pensions in fiscal 2024 is more than double the number in fiscal 2023, reaching about 30,000. It has also been mentioned that the requirements have become stricter since the director of the Japan Pension Service Disability Pension Center was replaced in October 2023, and that centre staff may be inducing doctors to deny pensions. 

Episode Notes:

‘Doubts over doubling of disability pension denials: Minister Fukuoka will “investigate the actual situation and make it public” ’:

https://barrierfreejapan.com/2025/05/22/doubts-over-doubling-of-disability-pension-denials-minister-fukuoka-will-investigate-the-actual-situation-and-make-it-public/


As Denial of Disability Pensions in Japan Double, Health Ministry Will “investigate the actual situation and make it public”

Hosted by Michael Gillan Peckitt, who resides in Kobe, Japan, the Disability News Japan Podcast is News website 'Barrier Free Japan's podcast, a weekly digest of some of the news about disability in Japan in audio form. New episodes will usually available every Friday at 6am Japan Time.

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