As the Tokyo Deaflympics nears its conclusion, the Japanese women’s basketball and volleyball teams won gold medals at the Tokyo Deaflympics on Tuesday. Japan narrowly beat the United States 65-64 in the women’s basketball final, and trumped Turkey to win their first women’s volleyball gold in two Deaflympics. Episode Notes: ‘Japan Women Win Basketball, Volleyball Gold at Tokyo Deaflympics’: https://barrierfreejapan.com/2025/11/26/japan-women-win-basketball-volleyball-gold-at-tokyo-deaflympics/

Japan’s medal haul at the Tokyo 2025 Deaflympics reached a record 31 on Sunday, surpassing the previous national best of 30 set at the 2022 Games in Caxias do Sul, Brazil, organizers said. Japan added to its tally with strong performances across multiple sports. In karate, the women’s team won gold in the team kata event, while 20-year-old Kenji Mori captured the men’s individual kata title. In swimming, Ryutaro Ibara, 31, claimed his third gold of the Games by winning the men’s 400-meter individual medley. On the track, Maki Yamada, 28, earned silver in the men’s 200-meter sprint. Crown Princess Kiko and Prince Hisahito attended an orienteering event on Izu Oshima, part of metropolitan Tokyo. The two watched the final round of the men’s relay, which featured Japan and seven other teams, with Prince Hisahito offering cheers to athletes in sign language. The Crown Princess, who first tried the sport after an introduction by a foreign researcher at the 2019 International Cartographic Conference in Tokyo, has since been a regular participant in competitions and training sessions. Earlier in the day, the pair visited Buratto House, a shop selling local farm products. Episode notes: ‘Japan’s Tokyo Deaflympics Medals Reach Record 31’: https://barrierfreejapan.com/2025/11/25/japans-tokyo-deaflympics-medals-reach-record-31/ ‘Crown Princess Kiko, Prince Hisahito Watch Deaflympic Event’: https://barrierfreejapan.com/2025/11/24/crown-princess-kiko-prince-hisahito-watch-deaflympic-event/

Japan will substantially hike visa issuance fees for foreign residents in the next fiscal year and utilize the additional revenue to strengthen policies supporting multiculturalism, government sources said Thursday. The new fees come amid a rise in foreign residents in the country, with the cost of changing visa status or reissuing for a term of one year or longer to be hiked by up to 40,000 yen ($250) or so from the current 6,000 yen. A permanent residency visa may be upped to over 100,000 yen from 10,000 yen. Episode notes: ‘Japan to raise visa fees for foreign residents next fiscal year’ (Kyodo): https://english.kyodonews.net/articles/-/65315#:~:text=The%20new%20fees%20come%20amid,100%2C000%20yen%20from%2010%2C000%20yen.

Japan’s first judo podium came on Nov. 14, when Kazuma Gamo secured bronze in the men’s 73-kilogram division. The remaining medals followed on Nov. 17, with Yuto Fukasawa taking bronze in the men’s 81-kg class, Mizuki Mizutare in the men’s 90-kg, and Tomoki Takahashi in the men’s 100-kg. In the women’s events, Akira Kinugawa added another bronze in the 70-kg category. Maki Yamada won the men's 400-meter race at the Tokyo 2025 Deaflympics on Wednesday, earning Japan its first gold medal at the ongoing event. Yamada finished the race in 47.61 seconds, rewriting his own deaf Japan record. "I've worked hard to win a gold medal at the Tokyo Games," he said. "My efforts have paid off." Episode notes: ‘Japan Picks Up Five Judo Bronzes at Tokyo Deaflympics’: https://barrierfreejapan.com/2025/11/19/japan-picks-up-five-judo-bronzes-at-tokyo-deaflympics/ ‘Sprinter Yamada Wins Japan’s 1st Gold at Tokyo Deaflympics’: https://barrierfreejapan.com/2025/11/20/sprinter-yamada-wins-japans-1st-gold-at-tokyo-deaflympics/

A 60-year-old woman with an intellectual disability in Hirakata, Osaka Prefecture, was denied a UR rental apartment despite having spent more than a year preparing to live independently with support from a local nonprofit, prompting concerns that the agency’s requirement for a co-resident family member constitutes discriminatory treatment. Episode notes: ‘Osaka Woman With Intellectual Disability Refused UR Housing, Raising Rights Questions ‘: https://barrierfreejapan.com/2025/11/16/osaka-woman-with-intellectual-disability-refused-ur-housing-raising-rights-questions/

The former officer, Masato Takeuchi, and another suspect arrested over the case, 55-year-old company employee Hiromi Ishichi, are apparently denying the allegations. Takeuchi is a board member of a Kyoto-based group, mainly comprising former police officers, that provides daily assistance to elderly people with dementia. The police believe the two suspects withdrew several million yen in cash using the victim's card. The Deaflympics officially opened Saturday in Tokyo, marking the first time Japan has hosted the international sporting event for the deaf or hard of hearing. A record 3,081 athletes from 81 countries and regions, as well as a refugee team and a neutral team competing under the Deaflympics flag, have made the final entry list for the games, with the opening ceremony held at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium in the heart of the Japanese capital. Episode notes: ‘Ex-Policeman Nabbed over Defrauding Person with Dementia’: https://barrierfreejapan.com/2025/11/14/ex-policeman-nabbed-over-defrauding-person-with-dementia/ ‘Deaflympics open in Tokyo as Japan hosts games for 1st time’: https://barrierfreejapan.com/2025/11/15/deaflympics-open-in-tokyo-as-japan-hosts-games-for-1st-time/

Japan is preparing to host its first-ever Deaflympics from Nov. 15 to 26, with events held in Tokyo, Shizuoka, and Fukushima, and Narita airport stepping up accessibility measures for the thousands of athletes and visitors expected from around 80 countries. The airport has introduced pictogram signage, written communication tools, and staff training sessions led by people with hearing impairments to improve interactions with deaf and hard-of-hearing travelers. Meanwhile, the Tokyo metropolitan government is offering sign language lessons to its employees to ensure smooth event operations and promote greater understanding of the deaf community ahead of the 12-day international sporting event. Episode notes: ‘Tokyo Gears Up for Japan’s First Deaflympics with Push for Accessibility’: https://barrierfreejapan.com/2025/11/13/tokyo-gears-up-for-japans-first-deaflympics-with-push-for-accessibility/

The Hikone branch of the Otsu District Public Prosecutors Office announced on the 10th that it has decided not to indict a 70-year-old male care worker from Hikone City, Shiga Prefecture. The man had been arrested on suspicion of preparation for murder and violation of the Firearms and Swords Control Act after allegedly hiding a kitchen knife at the welfare facility for people with disabilities in Higashiomi City, Shiga Prefecture, where he worked, with the intent to kill a 44-year-old resident. The prosecutors did not disclose the reason for their decision. Episode notes: ‘Attempted murder of a resident at Shiga care facility for people with disabilities; care worker arrested with knife will not be prosecuted’: https://barrierfreejapan.com/2025/11/11/attempted-murder-of-a-resident-at-shiga-care-facility-for-people-with-disabilities-care-worker-arrested-with-knife-will-not-be-prosecuted/

A welfare-related company based in Osaka City is suspected of having improperly received tens of billions of yen in disability employment support subsidies (payments) since fiscal 2024, city officials revealed on November 5. The company allegedly exploited a system that increases subsidy amounts based on the number of disabled workers who find employment in regular companies. Osaka City has launched an audit under the Comprehensive Support for Persons with Disabilities Act and is considering demanding repayment. Episode notes: ‘Osaka Firm Suspected of Tens of Billions in Improper Disability Work Subsidies’: https://barrierfreejapan.com/2025/11/07/osaka-firm-suspected-of-tens-of-billions-in-improper-disability-work-subsidies/

I am not a climate change denier, nor am I indifferent to environmental issues, but these types of cups are really difficult for me to use as a person with disabilities. The Golden Arches may not be the ‘environmental issue’ hill I wish to die on, but its going to be really difficult for me to go to McDonalds in Japan after November 19th. The fast-food chain said it will begin introducing a new lid design that eliminates the need for straws, starting Nov. 19, replacing the paper straws introduced in 2022. Episode notes: ‘McDonald's Japan to stop using paper straws from November 19th 2025’: https://barrierfreejapan.com/2025/11/04/mcdonalds-japan-to-stop-using-paper-straws-from-november-19th-2025/

A 43-year-old care worker at a facility for people with disabilities in Higashiomi, Shiga Prefecture, has been arrested for indecent assault and is suspected of abusing 15 residents in total, the facility’s operator said Thursday. According to the social welfare corporation Gamounokai, which runs the Akane support facility, the worker admitted to acts including pinching, headbutting, and hiding stuffed toys from residents between April last year and August this year, saying he “couldn’t control [his] irritation.” All additional victims were men with disabilities, though no injuries were reported. The corporation has apologized to residents and families, and pledged measures such as stricter staff supervision and the installation of monitoring cameras to prevent further abuse. Episode notes: ‘Care Facility Worker Suspected of Abusing Disabled Residents, 15 Possible Victims, Says He “Couldn’t Control His Frustration” ’: https://barrierfreejapan.com/2025/11/01/care-facility-worker-suspected-of-abusing-disabled-residents-fr15-possible-victims-says-he-couldnt-control-his-frustration/

A couple in Tokyo were all set to move into a new home when a real estate agent abruptly relayed a message from the apartment management company. “We regret to inform you that we cannot proceed with the contract.”They repeatedly tried to get an explanation from the company but could not gain access. The couple then realized the company’s decision to reject their application came soon after the property owner learned about their mental disabilities. Episode notes: ‘Tokyo couple denied housing after disabilities revealed’: https://barrierfreejapan.com/2025/10/30/tokyo-couple-denied-housing-after-disabilities-revealed/

These groups cleverly approach university students, both on and off campus, using topics that interest them (social contribution, job hunting, international exchange, etc.), and subtly manipulate them through mind control, drawing them into their activities. Students may be forced to purchase expensive goods, separated from their families and friends, and have their student lives ruined.

The Japanese gaming industry is working to improve video game accessibility by developing equipment and systems that allow people with disabilities affecting their hands to play by using other parts of their body, such as their cheeks, feet and eyes. There were people playing games without using their hands at an area dedicated to accessibility at the Tokyo Game Show in the city of Chiba in September. Such an area was set up at the show for the first time. Episode notes: ‘Japanese Gaming Industry Moves to Improve Accessibility’: https://barrierfreejapan.com/2025/10/27/japanese-gaming-industry-moves-to-improve-accessibility/

Japan’s overall suicides fell to 20,320 in 2024, the second-lowest figure on record, but the number of schoolchildren who took their own lives rose to a record 529, government data showed. Suicides among junior high school students reached their highest level since statistics began in 1980, with school-related problems cited as the leading cause. The 2025 White Paper on Suicide Prevention noted that overdoses, including those involving over-the-counter drugs, were a major factor among young people, prompting plans to tighten restrictions on drug sales to minors. Despite the nationwide decline, experts warn the record student suicides reflect deepening mental health and social issues among Japan’s youth. Episode notes: ‘Japan student suicides hit record high in 2024 despite overall decline': https://barrierfreejapan.com/2025/10/25/japan-student-suicides-hit-record-high-in-2024-despite-overall-decline/

As of Tuesday 21st October, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s new Cabinet appointed Kenichiro Ueno as health, labor and welfare minister and Hitoshi Kikawada as minister for children and population issues, but did not include a minister specifically in charge of elderly or disabled affairs, leaving those areas under the health ministry’s broader welfare framework. Episode notes: ‘New Cabinet under Takaichi omits dedicated minister for elderly, disabled': https://barrierfreejapan.com/2025/10/22/new-cabinet-under-takaichi-omits-dedicated-minister-for-elderly-disabled/

Japanese public prosecutors on Wednesday 15th October sought the death penalty for Hideaki Nozu, who has been charged with killing three members of his family with a crossbow at his home in Takarazuka, Hyogo Prefecture, in June 2020.The prosecution said that Nozu's autism spectrum disorder did not significantly affect his motivation and that his acts were planned. The defendant maintained the capacity to control his actions and was fully competent, as he hesitated to carry out his plan, it said. Episode notes: ‘Prosecutors Seek Death Penalty for Autistic Defendant over Fatal Crossbow Attack in Japan’: https://barrierfreejapan.com/2025/10/20/prosecutors-seek-death-penalty-for-autistic-defendant-over-fatal-crossbow-attack-in-japan/

Unicharm Corp. announced on Wednesday 15th October it will begin a trial installation of free sanitary pad dispensers at 22 public facilities in Tokyo’s Shibuya Ward, in partnership with the local government. Running until Dec. 26, the initiative aims to support individuals who cannot afford menstrual products. While Unicharm provides the dispensers, Shibuya Ward will supply the sanitary napkins. The company, which has already introduced the dispensers in schools and businesses, expressed hopes of expanding the program through further cooperation with local governments. Episode notes: ‘Unicharm to Test Sanitary Pad Dispensers in Tokyo’s Shibuya’: https://barrierfreejapan.com/2025/10/19/unicharm-to-test-sanitary-pad-dispensers-in-tokyos-shibuya/

In two separate incidents in Japan, vulnerable residents of care facilities tragically lost their lives under disturbing circumstances. In Ishinomaki, Miyagi Prefecture, a 38-year-old woman with disabilities died in December 2022 after suffering severe burns from overly hot bathwater during staff-assisted bathing. Three employees of the Hitakami-en facility have been referred to prosecutors for professional negligence resulting in death, as the water temperature was found to be dangerously high. Meanwhile, in Tsurugashima, Saitama Prefecture, two elderly women were found dead on October 15, hours after being discovered bleeding and unconscious in their care facility. Episode notes: ‘Three Care Workers Referred to Prosecutors Over Fatal Burn Incident at Miyagi Care Facility’: https://barrierfreejapan.com/2025/10/16/three-care-workers-referred-to-prosecutors-over-fatal-burn-incident-at-miyagi-care-facility/ ‘2 Women Found Bleeding at Saitama Elderly Care Facility Die, Former Employee Arrested’: https://barrierfreejapan.com/2025/10/15/2-women-found-bleeding-at-saitama-elderly-care-facility-die/

A long-running bus service for people with disabilities in Saitama Prefecture will be discontinued at the end of the fiscal year due to a shortage of drivers and the wider availability of lift-equipped charter buses from private operators, the prefectural government said. The Oozora-go, a 40-seat bus donated over decades by Musashino Bank, has served thousands annually since 1973, offering affordable group travel for disability organizations. Advocates have expressed disappointment, saying the service promoted social participation for people with disabilities, while Governor Motohiro Ōno said the prefecture will consider alternative measures in light of user feedback and social changes. Episode notes: ‘Bus Service for People with Disabilities to Be Discontinued Due to Driver Shortage’: https://barrierfreejapan.com/2025/10/13/bus-service-for-people-with-disabilities-to-be-discontinued-due-to-driver-shortage/