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A 38-year-old male teacher at Chiba Sodegaura Prefectural Special Needs School in Midori Ward, Chiba, has filed a lawsuit against Chiba Prefecture, seeking ¥5 million in damages. He alleges that inappropriate treatment, including workplace harassment by school administrators over his developmental disabilities, left him suffering from depression and unable to work. According to the complaint and other documents, the man has worked at the school since 2018. In 2021, he was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), among other conditions. He explained to the school that, because of the characteristics of his disabilities, he had difficulty understanding the meaning of conversations and required certain accommodations. Episode notes: ‘Special Needs Teacher with Autism Sues Chiba Prefectural Government Over Colleagues’ ‘inappropriate treatment’: https://barrierfreejapan.com/2026/11/08/special-needs-teacher-with-autism-sues-chiba-prefectural-government-over-colleagues-inappropriate-treatment/

Regarding an abuse incident in January at “Residence Wakafuji,” a facility for supporting people with disabilities in Shimanto City, Kochi Prefecture, where a resident was left unattended and subsequently died after being made to eat while naked in a shower room, the operating social welfare corporation submitted a third-party verification committee report to the prefecture on November 4. The report pointed out that the facility was being operated without clearly assigning staff in charge of supervision and support. Episode notes: ‘Panel Cites Flaws in Oversight System Over Abuse and Death of Disabled Person at Kochi Facility’: https://barrierfreejapan.com/2026/11/07/panel-cites-flaws-in-oversight-system-over-abuse-and-death-of-disabled-person-at-kochi-facility/

16-year-old Runa (pseudonym), who was arrested and detained on suspicion of abusing a user at a facility for persons with disabilities in Hyogo Prefecture. Following her release, Runa suffered from a persistent eating disorder and subsequently passed away. On October 21, the first oral argument session was held in a state redress lawsuit filed by her surviving family against the national and prefectural governments. At the Kobe District Court, Runa’s mother began her statement of opinion. Episode notes: ‘Mother of ‘Runa’’s Statement of Opinion at Kobe District Court’: https://barrierfreejapan.com/2026/11/04/mother-of-runas-statement-of-opinion-at-kobe-district-court/

A 53-year-old company employee was sentenced to three years and six months in prison on Oct. 30 by the Saitama District Court for causing the death of her younger sister, who had a mental disorder and lived with her, through assault. In explaining the reasons for the ruling, Judge Koike described the circumstances leading up to the incident. The defendant began living with her younger sister around October 2021 after their mother moved away in what appeared to be an effort to avoid the younger sister. The judge also said the defendant had accumulated considerable stress from caring for her sister and managing her daily life. He also noted that she had continued pursuing procedures to secure a place for her sister in a group home rather than abandoning her, saying there were “grounds for sympathy.” Episode notes: ‘Saitama woman, carer for reclusive sister with mental illness sentenced to 3 years and 6 months in prison’: https://barrierfreejapan.com/2026/11/02/saitama-woman-carer-for-reclusive-sister-with-mental-illness-sentenced-to-3-years-and-6-months-in-prison/

The strong Typhoon In-fa, also known as Typhoon No. 31, was located near the Ogasawara Islands on Monday morning and was moving west-northwest at 20 kph, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency. Its central pressure was 965 hectopascals with maximum instantaneous wind speeds of 185 kph as of 9:00 a.m. on Monday. Episode notes: 'Typhoon In-fa Located Near Japan’s Ogasawara Islands with Wind Speeds of 185 kph' (Nov 2, The Japan News): https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/society/general-news/20261102-356891/

Not much going on ‘disability in Japan-wise’. Typhoon 31 - ‘In-fa’ is getting close to Japan but will probably swerve away.

According to the report, former employees of ‘Megumi', a Japanese operator of group homes for people with disabilities have alleged that a facility director repeatedly assaulted and verbally abused residents in a space known as a “punishment room,” according to an investigative report published Monday that said that a Megumi day-care facility home in Kasugai, Aichi Prefecture had a space adjacent to the facility referred to as an “otoshioki-beya,” or “punishment room”, where a female facility director frequently assaulted and verbally abused service users. Episode notes: ‘Former employees allege abuse in ‘punishment room’ at Aichi ‘Megumi’ disability care facility’: https://barrierfreejapan.com/2026/10/26/former-employees-allege-abuse-in-punishment-room-at-aichi-megumi-disability-care-facility/

Japan won a record 64 gold medals at the Asian Para Games, which concluded Saturday after bringing together around 3,000 athletes from 45 countries and regions, although concerns were raised over accessibility for disabled volunteers. Episode notes: ‘Japan wins record 64 golds at Asian Para Games amid accessibility concerns’: https://barrierfreejapan.com/2026/10/26/japan-wins-record-64-golds-at-asian-para-games-amid-accessibility-concerns/

What’s left of typhoon 30 ‘Champi’ passing through mainland Japan, not as bad as it could have been but 31 is a-coming!

‘Runa’ - a pseudonym, whom was 16 at the time that she died, intervened when a female service user with a severe intellectual disability attempted to bite another person during an event at a disability welfare facility in Hyogo Prefecture. A person who witnessed the incident later reported it to a local government authority as possible abuse. Speaking after the hearing, Runa's mother said she wanted the court proceedings to establish why her daughter had been deprived of her liberty and whether her life and dignity had been protected during detention. She said she was pursuing the case so that others would not have to endure similar suffering. Episode notes: ‘Death of 16-year-old girl in Hyogo: A Timeline’: https://barrierfreejapan.com/2026/10/25/death-of-16-year-old-girl-in-hyogo-a-timeline/

Severe tropical storm Champi is bringing strong winds to parts of Okinawa Prefecture in southern Japan. Authorities are warning of high waves and storm surges. The large storm is estimated to be moving north-northeast over the waters around the Sakishima Islands at a speed of 20 kilometers per hour. Maximum sustained winds are blowing at 108 kilometers per hour, with peak gusts of 144 kilometers per hour. Rainfall could reach 120 millimeters in the 24 hours through noon on Sunday. People are urged to stay alert against high waves, landslides and flooding in low-lying areas. Flights have been canceled, mainly between islands in Okinawa and Kagoshima prefectures. Utilities are also affected. Okinawa Electric Power Company says more than 11,000 homes in the prefecture were without electricity as of 6 p.m. It also says the water supply has been cut off on Haterumajima island due to extended power blackouts. The storm has already battered Taiwan. Officials say one person is dead and more than 600 injured. Schools in Taipei and other areas are temporarily closed. Episode notes: ‘Severe storm Champi threatens Okinawa’: https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/news/20261024de64680/

Large Typhoon Champi is expected to come closest to the Sakishima Islands in Okinawa Prefecture, southern Japan, between late Friday afternoon and Saturday morning, and may be accompanied by a band of heavy rain clouds. The prefecture already has extremely strong winds and rough seas. As of noon on Friday, the typhoon was about 160 kilometers south-southwest of Ishigaki Island in the Sakishima Islands and moving north-northwest at a speed of 15 kilometers per hour. It had a central atmospheric pressure of 955 hectopascals and was packing winds of up to 144 kilometers per hour near its center, with gusts peaking at 216 kilometers per hour. Winds of 90 kilometers per hour or faster are blowing within an area 330 kilometers northwest and 280 kilometers southeast of the storm's center. Episode notes: ‘Typhoon Champi approaching Japan's Sakishima Islands’: https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/news/20261022de63409/

There have been calls for the organizers of the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Para Games to improve accessibility for disabled volunteers, following criticism that insufficient consideration was given to those volunteering at the Asian Games. Over 100 disabled individuals have volunteered for either the Asian Games, which concluded on Oct. 4, or the Asian Para Games, according to the organizing committee. Sachiko Matsuki, 46, who suffers from retinitis pigmentosa that narrows her field of vision, previously volunteered at international events including the Tokyo and Paris Olympics. At the Asian Games, she guided the Pakistani delegation to its bus stop and arranged taxis. While Matsuki uses a white cane, some roads were insufficiently paved and some passageways lacked lighting at night. She also saw wheelchair users unable to pass through entrances to rooms used for administrative work because of numerous steps. Episode notes: ‘Disabled volunteers call for improved accessibility at Asian Para Games’: https://barrierfreejapan.com/2026/10/21/disabled-volunteers-call-for-improved-accessibility-at-asian-para-games/

Princess Kako on Sunday called for greater understanding of hearing loss at a national welfare convention in Kyoto, expressing hope for a society where everyone can communicate with confidence. At the ceremony, the second daughter of Crown Prince Fumihito, also known as Crown Prince Akishino, said, "I hope everyone can access a wide range of information, communicate their thoughts to one another with peace of mind and live together.” Episode notes: ‘Princess Kako calls for greater understanding of hearing loss’: https://barrierfreejapan.com/2026/10/19/princess-kako-calls-for-greater-understanding-of-hearing-loss/

Michael Gillan Peckitt, whom now lives in Kobe, lived in Tokyo for about nine months and visited many times after. He has never seen Tokyo this empty.