Gallery: Disability Japan 2005-02
The protesters initially met in front of the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare in the morning. Because of the sheer number of people, the demonstraters lined both sides of the street in front of the Ministry and spilled into Hibiya Park behind them.
Shienpi System and the Grand Design
The Ministry has been pushing for a drastic modification (the so-called Grand Design) of the shienpi seido system of providing attendant care for people with severe disabilities. Under the previous shienpi system of individual coverage, people with disabilities do not have to pay a premium or co-payment as attendant care is provided a social welfare benefit.
The shienpi system worked too well and too many people with disabilities enrolled, straining the government's coffers. The Ministry has pushed a bill through the Lower House to have the attendant care changed so that it more closely mirrors an insurance plan rather than a social welfare benefit: i.e., the institution of premiums and co-payments.
