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/

October 13th is ‘Sports Day’ a national holiday in Japan! A Japanese government survey showed Friday that 75.8 pct of the respondents are unaware of the enactment of the country's basic law on dementia. The result of the public opinion survey by the Cabinet Office revealed that public awareness in Japan remains low even more than a year and a half after the law's enforcement in January 2024. Of the respondents, 16.4 pct said they are aware of the law's enactment but do not know its content, while 4.5 pct and 1.0 pct said they know its content "to some extent" and "in detail," respectively. Episode notes: ‘75 Percent Unaware of Dementia Basic Law Enactment According to Japan Government Survey’: https://barrierfreejapan.com/2025/10/11/75-percent-unaware-of-dementia-basic-law-enactment-according-to-japan-government-survey/

The Mie prefectural government plans to create what it says will be Japan’s first ordinance with a penalty aimed at deterring customers from behaving abusively to workers.The ordinance would define customer abuse as excessive nuisances that go beyond social norms and harm employees’ working environment. Vicious behavior, such as shouting to demand an apology, would be classified as designated customer abuse. When a business files a complaint of customer abuse, the prefectural government will ask a panel including lawyers to investigate and seek opinions. The perpetrator will be fined if the order is not observed. The fine is likely to be about 500,000 yen. Episode Notes: ‘Mie Eyes Japan’s 1st Rule with Penalty against Customer Abuse’: https://barrierfreejapan.com/2025/10/08/mie-eyes-japans-1st-rule-with-penalty-against-customer-abuse/

Japan has entered the influenza season nationwide, marking the second-earliest beginning in the past 20 years, the health ministry said Friday. The number of flu patients reported from some 3,000 regularly monitored medical institutions across the country stood at 1.04 per institution in the week through Sunday 5th October. Episode notes: ‘Flu Season Starts in Japan, 2nd Earliest in 20 Years’: https://barrierfreejapan.com/2025/10/04/flu-season-starts-in-japan-2nd-earliest-in-20-years/

Sanae Takaichi was elected leader of Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party on Saturday 4th October, paving the way for her to become the nation’s next prime minister and Japan’s first female prime minister. At her first press conference, Takaichi vowed to form an inclusive leadership team, drawing on members from all generations, including her four rivals in the LDP race. Takaichi is expected to finalize executive appointments within the coming week. Episode notes: ‘Sanae Takaichi Becomes New LDP Leader, Promises Economic Relief and Party Unity’: https://barrierfreejapan.com/2025/10/05/sanae-takaichi-becomes-new-ldp-leader-promises-economic-relief-and-party-unity/

On September 26th, Kagoshima City took administrative action to revoke the disability welfare service designation of the "Employment Support Center Shichifukujin" (Takashi 2-chome), a Type B Continuing Employment Support Facility operated by the Social Welfare Corporation Tenyukai (Director: Yurika Nagata) in Murasakihara 5-chome, for fraudulently claiming training and other benefits. The city also ordered the repayment of 25,176,250 yen fraudulently claimed and received, plus additional payments totaling 35,240,631 yen. The revocation of the designation will take effect on September 30th. Episode notes: ‘Kagoshima City Ordered to Repay 35 Million Yen, Disability Welfare Designation Revoked’: https://barrierfreejapan.com/2025/09/28/kagoshima-city-ordered-to-repay-35-million-yen-disability-welfare-designation-revoked/

Tokyo police have arrested four people on suspicion of robbing and abusing a man in his 40s with a mild intellectual disability after forcing him to drink large amounts of whisky, the Metropolitan Police Department said Sept. 26. The suspects — a 22-year-old company worker from Shizuoka Prefecture, a 24-year-old woman from Tokyo, a 21-year-old university student from Hokkaido, and a 19-year-old male restaurant worker — allegedly met the victim through social media and conspired to exploit his condition. Police said the four made the man drink over 700 milliliters of whisky in Tokyo’s Nakano Ward in June, stole his smartphone and used about 100,000 yen in electronic money. They also filmed the incident, which included acts of sexual humiliation, and later abandoned the victim near his home and again in Shizuoka Prefecture. All four have admitted to the allegations, according to the police. Episode notes: ‘4 in Japan accused of robbing intellectually disabled man after forcing him to drink’: https://barrierfreejapan.com/2025/09/30/4-in-japan-accused-of-robbing-intellectually-disabled-man-after-forcing-him-to-drink/

Saou Ichikawa was born in 1979. Diagnosed in childhood with congenital myopathy, a rare disease that causes muscle weakness, and has used a ventilator since age 14. Ichikawa graduated in March 2023 from Waseda University’s School of Human Sciences correspondence program. Her thesis “The Reciprocal Influence Between the Representation of Disabled People and Real Society” won the Ono Azusa Memorial Academic Prize. Her debut novel “Hunchback” won the 169th Akutagawa Prize in July 2023. Her most recent book, to be published in September 2025 is “A Girl’s Spine”. Episode notes: ‘Akutagawa Prize Winning Author with Disabilities, Saou Ichikawa, Offers View on ‘Co-existence’ in Japan [Podcast Episode]’: https://barrierfreejapan.com/2025/09/15/akutagawa-prize-winning-author-with-disabilities-saou-ichikawa-offers-view-on-co-existence-in-japan-podcast-episode/

To promote social participation for people with disabilities, on August 30th, the Yamanashi prefectural government held a fashion show at the Aeon Mall Kofu Showa in the town of Showa in the prefecture, featuring both professional models and models with disabilities. Episode notes: ‘Models with Disabilities Walk Runway in Yamanashi Fashion Show, 14 People Participate in 4th Event’: https://barrierfreejapan.com/2025/09/18/models-with-disabilities-walk-runway-in-yamanashi-fashion-show-14-people-participate-in-4th-event/

In response to the higher rate of disability pension denials last fiscal year compared to the year before, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare conducted a detailed review of over 2,800 claims that had been denied between April and July last year. As a result, 124 of these cases were re-evaluated and will now be approved for payment. The ministry has announced it will continue to investigate recognition decisions and publish monthly updates on the progress. Episode notes: ‘124 Previously Denied Disability Pension Claims Approved, Japan’s Health Ministry to Continue Review and Publish Monthly Updates’: https://barrierfreejapan.com/2025/09/20/124-previously-denied-disability-pension-claims-approved-japans-health-ministry-to-continue-review-and-publish-monthly-updates/

Retired visually impaired swimmer Junichi Kawai was named the next commissioner of the Japan Sports Agency on Friday and will become the first Paralympian to assume the post when his appointment takes effect Oct. 1. Kawai expressed his determination to fulfill his role, saying at a press conference in Tokyo, “My goal is to build a society where citizens recognize the value and appeal of sports.” As it is rare for a government body to be led by someone who is totally visually impaired, he added, “The fact that someone like me has been appointed to this position shows that times have changed, and I hope this means a lot to many people.” Episode notes: ‘Japan names 5-time Paralympic gold medalist Kawai to head sports agency’: https://barrierfreejapan.com/2025/09/19/japan-names-5-time-paralympic-gold-medalist-kawai-to-head-sports-agency/

An expert panel of Japan's health ministry on Thursday approved over-the-counter sales of a drug to treat erectile dysfunction. It is expected that OTC sales of the drug will help spread opportunities for erectile dysfunction treatment as the male sexual dysfunction has major impacts on society, such as being a factor for declining birthrates. Episode notes: ‘Japan Panel OKs 1st OTC Sales of Erectile Dysfunction Drug’: https://barrierfreejapan.com/2025/09/19/japan-panel-oks-1st-otc-sales-of-erectile-dysfunction-drug/

A quake with a preliminary magnitude of 4.7 rattled a group of small islands in southwestern Japan but no tsunami warning was issued, the country's weather agency said. The quake occurred shortly before 10 p.m. in waters near the Tokara island chain and its depth was very shallow, the Japan Meteorological Agency said, adding it measured lower 5 on the Japanese seismic scale of 7 in Toshima, Kagoshima Prefecture. Episode notes: ‘M4.7 quake shakes southwestern Japan islands, no tsunami warning’ (Kyodo): https://english.kyodonews.net/articles/-/61207