No news on ‘Coming of Age Day!’ Although there is a report that ‘Sign Language Link’ will be provided by the Japan Foundation Telephone Relay Service, a general incorporated foundation based in Tokyo. When police officers leave a kōban or a residential police post, they put up a notice indicating their absence. By scanning the QR code on this notice with a smartphone or other device, users are connected to a video call, initiating a three-way conversation between the user, a sign language interpreter, and an officer at the police station. Episode notes: ‘Gifu Prefectural Police Introduce ‘Sign Language Link’, Available Even if No Police Present’: https://barrierfreejapan.com/2026/01/11/gifu-prefectural-police-introduce-sign-language-link-available-even-if-no-police-present/

It was learned on January 6th that the medical corporation foundation “Aoyama-kai” has decided to end two disability consultation support services under contract with the city at the end of March and has notified the city. The relationship of trust with the city was damaged by Mayor Kaichi Deguchi’s social media posts during last year’s mayoral election and the subsequent response, and the foundation has decided that continuing the services any longer is difficult. Episode notes: https://barrierfreejapan.com/2026/01/08/medical-foundation-ends-disability-support-services-in-miura-city-after-mayors-social-media-remarks/

A Shindo 5, Magnitude 6.2 earthquake occurred at 10:18AM on Tuesday 6th January 2026, the epicentre was Shimane prefecture and registered in most of western Japan, including here in Kobe. And yes, could ‘religious folk’ please stop approaching and grabbing Barrier Free Japan's arm? Episode notes: 'Powerful Earthquakes Strike Western Japan': https://jen.jiji.com/jc/eng?g=eco&k=2026010600562

People with disabilities in Hyogo Prefecture will hold an emergency rally in Kobe on January 24th to protest violence at residential care facilities and to call for the early realization of deinstitutionalization. The gathering was prompted by reports that a resident with intellectual and physical disabilities died after being assaulted by staff at a facility in Sanda City. Organized by the Independent Living Center ‘Ring Ring’ and co-hosted by ‘Remember 7.26 Kobe Action’, the event will feature speakers from ‘Hyogo People First’ and will focus on disability rights and the need for community-based living. Episode notes: 'Hyogo Disability Rights Groups to Rally in Kobe Following Facility Violence Reports': https://barrierfreejapan.com/2026/01/01/hyogo-disability-rights-groups-to-rally-in-kobe-following-facility-violence-reports/

Speaking at an award ceremony recognizing contributions to the promotion of barrier-free and universal design initiatives on December 24th 2025, Prime Minister Takaichi said: “The society we aim for is an "inclusive society" in which all people, regardless of whether they have a disability or not, respect each other's human rights and dignity, support each other, and are able to enjoy vibrant lives.” Episode notes: ‘At Awards Ceremony Recognizing Barrier Free Initiatives, PM Takaichi Says She Aims for an “inclusive society” ’: https://barrierfreejapan.com/2026/01/03/at-awards-ceremony-recognizing-barrier-free-initiatives-pm-takaichi-says-she-aims-for-an-inclusive-society/

Akemashite Omedetou, Happy New Year from Japan! Nagasaki Prefecture reported a record 3,961 people with disabilities employed at private companies as of June 1, 2025, up 125 from the previous year, according to figures released by the Nagasaki Labour Bureau on Dec. 19, so we begin 2026 with good news about disability in Japan. Episode notes: ‘Nagasaki Sees Record-High Employment of People with Disabilities’: https://barrierfreejapan.com/2025/12/30/nagasaki-sees-record-high-employment-of-people-with-disabilities/

It was revealed on December 28th through interviews with stakeholders that the Japan Pension Service, which handles the administration of national disability pensions, has been secretly discarding evaluation records and requesting new rulings from different doctors whenever staff members deemed the original doctor’s decision on benefit eligibility to be "problematic." The Pension Service admitted to this practice during interviews, stating they are "currently investigating the facts, including the number of cases involved.” Episode notes: ‘Japan Pension Service Officials Discarded Doctors’ Disability Assessments’: https://barrierfreejapan.com/2025/12/29/japan-pension-service-officials-discarded-doctors-disability-assessments/

Cases of abuse against people with disabilities in Japan reached a record high of 3,770 in fiscal 2024, the welfare ministry said Tuesday 23rd December, citing an increase in consultations and reports to local governments. The total, confirmed by prefectural and municipal authorities, rose by 293 from the previous year, the ministry said. Episode notes: ‘Disability Abuse Cases Hit Record High in Japan in FY 2024’: https://barrierfreejapan.com/2025/12/26/disability-abuse-cases-hit-record-in-japan-in-fy-2024/

Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party is considering adding Japanese language proficiency as a requirement for permanent residency for foreigners, sources familiar with the matter said Friday. To obtain the status, foreigners will also be mandated to take a program aimed at helping them smoothly integrate into local communities, the sources said. The envisaged new requirements will be included in a draft package of proposals on policy for foreign nationals, to be compiled next month for submission to the government. Episode notes: ‘Japanese Proficiency Eyed as Permanent Residency Requirements’: https://barrierfreejapan.com/2025/12/23/japanese-proficiency-eyed-as-permanent-residency-requirement/

Nearly two years after Japan’s revised Act for Eliminating Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities made the provision of “reasonable accommodation” mandatory for private businesses, progress remains uneven. While some companies in Okayama Prefecture have introduced measures such as sign-language captions, communication apps, Braille menus, and barrier-free design, people with disabilities say daily experiences have changed little. Episode notes: ‘Two Years After Japan’s Anti-Disability Discrimination Law Revision, Mixed Progress on “Reasonable Accommodation”’: https://barrierfreejapan.com/2025/12/23/two-years-after-japans-anti-disability-discrimination-law-revision-mixed-progress-on-reasonable-accommodation/

Well, that’s more or less a wrap for 2025! There was a story on December 19th that Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare announced the results of a survey showing that, as of June 1, the number of people with disabilities working at private companies stood at 704,610, a 4.0% increase from the previous year. This marks the 22nd consecutive year in which the figure has reached a record high. However, only 46.0% of companies achieved the legally mandated employment ratio of 2.5%, unchanged from the previous year. I might make a few podcast episodes should something momentous happen, other than that, have a Barrier Free Solstice, New Year and Disability News Japan will return in 2026! Episode notes: ‘700,000 People with Disabilities in Japan Employed by Companies; Only 46% Meet Employment Quota’: https://barrierfreejapan.com/2025/12/20/700000-people-with-disabilities-in-japan-employed-by-companies-only-46-meet-employment-quota/

It has been learned that the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) is making arrangements to set an upper limit on the number of “retained workers” used to calculate support bonuses. This move comes in response to allegations that three “Type A Support Centers for Continuous Employment” in Osaka City received excessive payments. The Ministry revealed this plan on the 16th during a meeting to discuss revisions to the compensation system for disability welfare services. Episode notes: ‘Japan Govt to set cap on number of ‘retained workers’ used to calculate disability employment subsidies following excessive payments’: https://barrierfreejapan.com/2025/12/19/japan-govt-to-set-cap-on-number-of-retained-workers-used-to-calculate-disability-employment-subsidies-following-excessive-payments/

Three years have now passed since the disability studies scholar and Japanologist Mark Bookman (1991 – 2022) died on December 16th 2022. At the time of his death, Mark was a Postdoctoral Fellow at Tokyo College and about to take up a position at Ritsumeikan University. Episode notes: ‘ ‘Mark - A Call to Action’ (documentary) dir. Ron Small ’: https://www.amazon.com/Mark-Call-Action-Ron-Small/dp/B0DFV5ZCD4 ‘Disability Publics: Making Accessibility in Modern Japan’: https://www.amazon.co.jp/Disability-Publics-Making-Accessibility-Modern/dp/0198979738#immersive-view_1766021047271

In April two years ago, in Oguni Town, Yamagata Prefecture, a bullet fired by a hunter engaged in a bear extermination operation struck another man in the leg, causing serious injuries that resulted in permanent aftereffects. The injured man has filed a lawsuit against the town, seeking approximately 30 million yen in damages. Episode notes: ‘Man Disabled in Bear Cull Shooting; Town Seeks Damages from Hunter’: https://barrierfreejapan.com/2025/12/15/man-disabled-in-bear-cull-shooting-town-seeks-damages-from-hunter/

Almost half of Japanese nationals feel familiar with loneliness and isolation, a government survey showed Friday. According to the Cabinet Office’s first public opinion survey on the issue, 48.4% of respondents answered they feel “familiar” or “rather familiar” with such feelings, while 49.6% chose “not familiar” or “rather do not feel it.” The remaining 2.0% did not answer. Episode notes: ‘Nearly Half of Japanese Familiar with Loneliness, Isolation’: https://barrierfreejapan.com/2025/12/13/nearly-half-of-japanese-familiar-with-loneliness-isolation/

Around 11:44 a.m. on Friday December 12th, a quake with an estimated magnitude of 6.7 occurred off Aomori, logging 4 on Japan's seismic intensity scale in 38 municipalities in five prefectures, including Hokkaido's Hakodate, Aomori's Hachinohe and Iwate's Morioka. The intensity was the sixth-highest level on the 10-point scale. All the advisories were lifted at 2:05 p.m. after minor tsunami waves were observed in some municipalities, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency.

Aikawa Shinseien, a remote facility in Akita Prefecture housing nearly 90 intellectually disabled people sent from Tokyo, illustrates the long-standing practice of placing disabled residents far from their home communities due to Tokyo’s high land prices and neighborhood resistance to disability facilities, with some locals claiming such facilities would “damage the image” of the area. Many residents have lived there for decades, seldom see their families, and feel trapped, one 65-year-old man, who has lived there since the facility opened, says poignantly, “I don’t want to end my life here.” As parents age and die and “out-of-Tokyo facilities” continue to fill in replacements, some question what a truly inclusive living environment for disabled people should look like. Episode notes: “ ‘I Don’t Want to End My Life Here”: Half of the Disabled People Living in Facilities Sent Outside Tokyo’: https://barrierfreejapan.com/2025/12/10/i-dont-want-to-end-my-life-here-half-of-the-disabled-people-living-in-facilities-sent-outside-tokyo/

A powerful earthquake mainly struck Japan's Tohoku northeastern region, including Aomori Prefecture, on Monday night, measuring up to upper 6, the second-highest level on the country's seismic intensity scale. The temblor, with an estimated magnitude of 7.6, occurred at a depth of about 50 kilometers off the east coast of Aomori around 11:15 p.m. Episodes notes: https://barrierfreejapan.com/2025/12/09/powerful-quake-hits-northeastern-japan/

Japan plans to introduce a ban with penalties on implanting a genome-edited fertilized human egg into the womb of a human or another animal amid concerns over “designer babies.” A Japanese government expert panel broadly approved a proposal, including the ban, at a meeting on Thursday 4th December. Episode notes: ‘Japan Eyes Ban on Gene-Edited Babies’: https://barrierfreejapan.com/2025/12/05/japan-eyes-ban-on-gene-edited-babies/

The trial of Tetsuya Yamagami, accused of killing former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in 2022, continued this week at the Nara District Court with detailed testimony about the defendant’s motives and a courtroom appearance by Abe’s widow, Akie. Yamagami, 45, told judges and lay judges that he targeted Abe because he believed the former leader sat “at the center” of ties between politics and the Unification Church, saying his “hatred and hostility” developed gradually and that attacking any other politician would have carried “weak significance.” Akie Abe attended Wednesday’s session through a system for victims’ families, listening silently as Yamagami bowed toward her before questioning resumed on why he shifted his focus from church leaders to Abe. The high-profile proceedings will continue as the court weighs Yamagami’s intent and the circumstances surrounding the fatal shooting. Episode Notes: ‘Yamagami Viewed Abe as Center of Politics-Church Relations’: https://barrierfreejapan.com/2025/12/03/yamagami-viewed-abe-as-center-of-politics-church-relations/ ‘Slain Ex-PM Abe’s Wife Attends Attacker’s Trial for 1st Time’: https://barrierfreejapan.com/2025/12/04/slain-ex-pm-abes-wife-attends-attackers-trial-for-1st-time/