Disability News Japan

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/