This study analyzed how Daily Life Security Law (DLS) funds were reduced during the “welfare retrenchment period” using blame avoidance strategies. In the 1980s, financial difficulties compelled the Japanese cabinet to reduce social security costs. To achieve this, the cabinet opted for neoliberal measures. Thus, social security systems suffered budget cuts, especially the DLS. Studies showed that the reduction of retrenchment benefits in the DLS revealed the effects of its “optimization” but did not clarify how this optimization was realized in the 1980s. We therefore posited that skillful strategies of blame avoidance, similar to those used during the pension system reform (as pointed out by Toshimitsu Shinkawa), were employed in the DLS welfare retrenchment reform and explained how the DLS was reduced using these strategies. We used the city of Kitakyushu as a local municipal case study for implementing DLS. We clarified that these aforementioned strategies are different from those implemented in the pension system. Ultimately, these methods were partially successful at reducing DLS welfare during this period.

The question “What is a disability?” cannot be answered unambiguously. Based on this premise, this study considers the possibility of a “strategic and practical use of the definition of disability,” in which each case selects multiple definitions of disability according to their purpose, even contradictory, from the perspective of “usefulness” in the sense that they serve to reduce or eliminate the suffering and pain of disabled people. This paper, therefore, aims to discuss the potential of this “strategic and practical use of disability definitions,” responding to various criticisms that might be expected. We then suggest that the “strategic and practical use of disability definitions” has significant advantages in achieving these goals, as they vary from case to case.

This paper clarifies the points which had been lacking in the discussions in institutions outside Tokyo through the arrangement of their documentation, with the objective of examining the correlations with contemporary problems of persons with intellectual disabilities following the death of parents. This paper has pointed out that the problems of the institutions outside Tokyo were:not taking deinstitutionalization into consideration, measures not being put in place after having separated children with intellectual disabilities from their parents, and the characteristics of intellectual disabilities not being taken into consideration. These issues also lead to problems after the death of intellectually-disabled persons’ parents. We have concluded that in order to solve the problems after the death of the parents of intellectually-disabled persons, one needs to seek out the preferences and wishes of the person in question. This is based on having regarded the parents as one of the parties concerned, and the parties concerned having collected information on the person in question, centering on intellectually-disabled persons who have difficulty expressing their intentions. It will become the means for solving the problems of intellectually-disabled persons following the death of parents.

This paper seeks to clarify how social workers in regional sustained community life support centers for elderly and disabled ex-offenders develop practices in their field to help targets who have been released from correctional institutions. Therefore, the study conducted a semi-structured interview survey with seven staff members of regional sustained community life support centers for elderly and disabled ex-offenders in six prefectures. From the analysis, 33 codes were generated and organized into 12 categories, and these were divided into three scenes for analysis:direct relations with the support targets, cooperation with correctional institutions/probation offices, and cooperation with relevant local organizations. Consequently, several characteristics were clarified: First, the social work practices of regional sustained community life support centers for elderly and disabled ex-offenders are recognized in terms of both universality and professionalism. Second, social workers of regional sustained community life support centers for elderly and disabled ex-offenders assess support targets within a limited time or environment to help them after they have been released from correctional institutions. Third, the social workers of regional sustained community life support centers for elderly and disabled ex-offenders must cooperate with various organizations.

This study aimed to examine the professional competence of social workers who collaborated with local residents and developed social resources as a result. The subjects of the interview survey were social workers from the community general support center with practical experience in this field. The collected data underwent qualitative data analysis and generated a total of 20 competency codes and 8 categories along the process of practice. This study found that while social workers are aware of the limits of support, they do not avoid problem-solving; rather, they understand social resources that must be developed from a flexible perspective, formulate strategies, and execute, modify, and evaluate them. They also make positive decisions through dialogue and information sharing and build a highly mobile basecamp for development. Social workers “take off” their professional attitude depending on the situation and engage as people, connect with various actors, and demonstrate their practical competencies as social workers through practice. This is described as “putting on and taking off one’s profession.”

Since the early 2000s, much focus has been placed on the plight of the youth, who have been offered supportive care such as employment, Ibasyo, and outreach. While studies have discussed the issue of young people’s housing, such issue has received little support. The actual situation is unclear, with no public assistance and some private organizations providing some support. Hence, this report aimed to clarify the kinds of residential support being offered to young people across Japan. This report is based on a survey of organizations that underwent interviews in March 2021. The survey results clarified that residential support for young people has been implemented from diverse backgrounds since 2010. Furthermore, user burden, forms for providing a living space, assignment of staff members, and rules for use were also summarized.