While a baby born with the mother concealing her identity to authorities will now likely have a family register set up, other obstacles in registering a confidential birth in Japan remain to be addressed. Although experts are calling for legal revisions so that confidential births can be allowed without administrative exceptions, government officials continue to be reluctant to tackle….Read more
SOCIETY > Welfare
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Hurdles still exist despite progress in confidential birth registration
- February 11, 2022
- , The Asahi Shimbun , 5:20 p.m.
- English Press
Kumamoto to allow hospital’s confidential birth system
By Horikoshi Rina, staff writer KUMAMOTO–The city government here has decided to allow Jikei Hospital to proceed with its confidential birth system, which lets a baby be registered without the mother’s name. Kumamoto officials said some women require anonymity and have no choice but to use the system. The hospital and city officials plan to meet to….Read more
- February 9, 2022
- , The Asahi Shimbun , 5:47 p.m.
- English Press
Child abuse, domestic violence cases hit record highs in Japan
Tokyo, Feb. 3 (Jiji Press)–The number of suspected child abuse and domestic violence cases in Japan both hit a record high in 2021, a police survey showed Thursday. “Child abuse and domestic violence tend to stay undetected. We’ll be on increased alert, given social changes such as the spread of coronavirus infections,” a National Police Agency official said. ….Read more
- February 3, 2022
- , Jiji Press , 10:19 a.m.
- English Press
Challenges of reforming Japan’s immigration system
By Mizukami Yoichiro 1. The death of a Sri Lankan woman Following the death of a Nigerian man from starvation after he refused to eat at the Omura Immigration Center in June 2019, a Sri Lankan woman (33) died on March 6, 2021, at the Nagoya Regional Immigration Services Bureau’s detention center. The woman fell ill while in custody and….Read more
- November 1, 2021
- , Sekai , p. 170-179
- JMH Translation
- Refugees
Japan agency to help vaccinate foreigners
NHK has learned that Japan’s Immigration Services Agency will help speed up vaccinations among foreign nationals who are unable to make appointments for the coronavirus vaccine. Experts say the pace of inoculations for foreigners is slow as many cannot make appointments due to language barriers or have not yet received vaccination vouchers from municipalities. Starting in mid-October, the….Read more
- October 1, 2021
- , NHK WORLD , 12:05 p.m.
- English Press
- COVID-19
29 People in Japan to receive aid over vaccine health damage
Tokyo, Aug. 19 (Jiji Press)–A Japanese health ministry panel on Thursday agreed to provide medical expenses and other aid to 29 people who filed for damages linked to COVID-19 vaccinations. They will become the first group of people who receive aid from the Japanese government over health damage related to COVID-19 vaccinations. The 29 people, aged between….Read more
- August 20, 2021
- , Jiji Press , 2:05 a.m.
- English Press
- COVID-19
It may take an election upset for spouses to keep their surnames
The male-dominated Supreme Court dealt a double-blow to couples who want to retain both surnames after marriage. Not only did the top court’s Grand Bench rule–again–that legal provisions requiring married couples to use a single surname were constitutional, it also said–again–that the issue should be settled by the Diet, not the courts. The current Diet is largely controlled….Read more
- June 24, 2021
- , The Asahi Shimbun , 5:44 p.m.
- English Press
Japan to use Tokyo Games to aim for barrier-free society
Tokyo, June 15 (Jiji Press)–The Japanese government in a white paper released Tuesday outlined a policy of using this summer’s Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games as an opportunity to promote a barrier-free society. The 2021 White Paper on Government Measures for Persons with Disabilities, approved at a cabinet meeting the same day, includes examples of city planning that utilize….Read more
- June 15, 2021
- , Jiji Press , 5:46 p.m.
- English Press
- Olympics
Welfare applications in Japan grow in fiscal 2020
Tokyo, June 2 (Jiji Press)–The number of public welfare benefit applications in Japan rose in fiscal 2020 for the first time since fiscal 2009 in the aftermath of the global financial crisis, a preliminary government survey showed Wednesday. In fiscal 2020, which ended in March, the number of applications rose 2.3 pct from the previous year to 228,081, according….Read more
- June 2, 2021
- , Jiji Press , 2:12 p.m.
- English Press
- COVID-19
Japan’s minister of loneliness gets flood of foreign media interviews
By Taishi Sasayama, staff writer Japan’s minister of loneliness isn’t lonely these days, drawing much attention from media outside the country eager to know exactly what his job entails and if it’s meeting with success. Tetsushi Sakamoto, responsible for dealing with problems of loneliness and isolation has been deluged with interview requests since taking the job in February, he….Read more
- April 30, 2021
- , The Asahi Shimbun , 6:55 p.m.
- English Press