I examined how the various mental health concerns of Japanese youth have changed from the 1970s to the present day. In particular, I studied the phenomena of student apathy, NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training), “otaku,” and “hikikomori” in Japan, based on trends in research and practice in the United States. The results showed that the problems of Japan’s contemporary school education and social system have a strong influence on many “hikikomori” people. Also, I point out that these problems tend to be reproduced since many “winners” who have fortunately been able to adapt, are unaware of the problems and causes.

The purpose of this paper is to clarify the features of Buddhist ideals of early childhood education and care (ECEC) in nursery schools and kindergartens in the Tokyo metropolitan area. We analyzed these features by focusing on Buddhist words, phrases, and events or activities in ECEC, for a total of 89 cases.

From KH coder analysis, it is clear that the cultivation of aesthetic sensitivity in Buddhism is key. For example, one group of kindergarten children is becoming more and more sensitive through the act of folding their hands and bowing before Buddhist statues, and they enjoy their time spent in this kindergarten.

In short, the cultivation of aesthetic sensitivity through physical rituals is an important feature of Buddhist ideals of ECEC in nursery schools and kindergartens in the Tokyo metropolitan area.

The purpose of this paper is to clarify the effect of Protestant ideals of early childhood education and care (ECEC) in nursery schools and kindergartens in the Kanagawa Prefecture area. We analyzed these features by focusing on Protestant words, phrases, and events or activities in ECEC, with a total of 48 cases.

Based on a KH coder analysis, it is clear that the cultivation of an aesthetic sensitivity is key in Protestantism. Through this cultivation of an aesthetic sensitivity, children learn to respect all creatures and to love others as they love themselves (as the Bible says). In this aesthetic sensitivity, “creatures” refers to human beings as imago Dei (in the image of God). “Love” is regarded as showing respect for one’s life and others’ lives, as both are of equal value.

Objective: The objective was to study ultrasound treatment for patients with Parkinsonʼs disease who are experiencing swallowing difficulties.

Subjects: The subjects were 16 patients with Parkinsonʼs disease who had been admitted to facilities and who presented swallowing difficulties.

Method: We implemented ultrasounds on infrahyoid muscles. A surface electromyographical analysis, modified water swallow test, relative larynx position, and frequency of dominant aspiration were compared before and after intervention. For the surface electromyogram analysis, We measured the average amplitude and the deglutition time of the masseter muscle, musculus digastricus, and musculus thyrohyoideus.

Results: Significant differences were found in the average amplitude of the musculus digastricus and musculus thyrohyoideus, Time lag of the musculus digastricus contraction and musculus thyrohyoideus contraction, contraction time of the musculus digastricus and musculus thyrohyoideus, relative larynx position, modified water swallow test, and frequency of dominant aspiration.

Conclusion: Ultrasound on infrahyoid muscles controls high-stripe tension rigidity and has an positive effect on the deglutition function.

This paper aimed to evaluate the group work being carried out in City A as a supplement to child-rearing support by measuring its effects, and considered the future operation of the enterprise. Surveys of participants confirmed that, after group work, their feelings about children and child-rearing changed positively, and their self-esteem and self-efficacy increased. The main issues concerning the future operation of the enterprise are how to respond to the needs of participants who feel time is short and does not allow for enough discussion, and what to do to sustain the effects of group work. Proposals were made focusing on participants’ internal characteristics and ways to link with local support.

In 1971, the Declaration on the Rights of Mentally Retarded Persons pointed out their rights to protection from exploitation, abuse and degrading treatment. The United Nations adopted the Declaration on the Rights of Disabled Persons in 1975, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights in 1979, and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2006. In Japan, however, despite a series of media reports on abuse against persons with intellectual disabilities, it took many more years until the Act on the Prevention of Abuse of Persons with Disabilities (the Act) was finally enacted in 2011. In order to catch up with other countries in development of legal systems, we need to sequentially check the implementation of advocacy activities stipulated in the Act. Therefore, with hope for the further development of the system, in this paper, the author would like to highlight “reports” as part of advocacy activities. Based on Article 20 of the Act, prefectural governors make an announcement on the number of reported cases of abuse for each fiscal year. The author would like to introduce the number of these cases in different regions of Japan, focusing on “reports” on abuse against persons with intellectual disabilities at care facilities for persons with disabilities from October 1, 2012, to March 31, 2017.

Objective: To reduce the occurrence of bedsores in a nursing home health care facility, the characteristics of bedsore generation were examined, based on the OH scale （Ashina version） considering assessment of the bedsore risk and the recurrence rate and occurrence site.

Methods: We selected 220 patients suffering from bedsores among 1.330 subjects who entered the facility during the 4 years and 4 months from September 2012 through December 2016. The degree of severity and score on the scale, recurrence rate, and site of occurrence were retrospectively investigated.

Results: The risk severity was highest in the middle risk group. The recurrence rate was 49％ in relapse. The buttocks were the most frequent site of occurrence.

Discussion: Although there were differences in physical ability among the subjects in the middle risk group, it is thought that the reasons for the highest number of occurrences were that a unified treatment was given, although there were considerable differences in awareness and efforts toward prevention of bedsore occurrence, and that there was a change in the risk of bedsore occurrence due to changes in the subjects’ physical condition. Regarding the recurrence rate, it is thought that since, after bedsores were completely healed, awareness of prevention of recurrence was weakened, and treatment reverted to that before the occurrence of the bedsores, the number of relapses increased. In regard to site of occurrence, since the buttocks cover a relatively large area, pressure is liable to be applied both in the sitting position and when lying down, particularly in the sitting position. It is considered that the high frequency of occurrence was increased by the long time spent in the sitting position.

This paper focuses on discussions on childcarer professionality in Japan and related issues. Since the year 2000, two definitions of childcarer professionality have been presented. In the first version, professionality is characterized by the various situations that childcarers usually face. However, these various definitions adapted to specific situations cannot be integrated into a single definition. In the second version, professionality is derived from “caring,” which is a central idea of the profession. However, this central concept is too abstract, so the question of “what is caring?” should be discussed. In both of these definitions, possible methods of learning professionality are not clarified. For instance, professionality might be attributed to the innate character of the childcarer.