Sanseito Leader Kamiya Claimed Developmental Disabilities “do not exist” in 2022 Pamphlet

Sohei Kamiya, founder and prominent figure of the right-wing political party Sanseito, faced criticism from disability rights groups and medical experts in the lead up to the election after remarks made in a party-published booklet that denied the existence of developmental disabilities resurfaced. In the 2022 booklet Sanseito Q&A Book – Basics, Kamiya wrote, “If you provide the exact same education as for typical children, there’s no problem. Actually, developmental disabilities simply do not exist.” The booklet likened neurodevelopmental differences to personality quirks, using fictional characters from Doraemon as examples. Episode Notes: ‘Sanseito Leader Kamiya Claimed Developmental Disabilities “do not exist” in 2022 Pamphlet’: https://barrierfreejapan.com/2025/07/22/sanseito-leader-kamiya-claimed-developmental-disabilities-do-not-exist-in-2022-pamphlet/