〔研究ノート〕生活困窮者自立支援制度とソーシャルワーク の在り方に関する一考察

　　The System for Self-Support of Needy Person was established in 2000 as a second safety net, with the aim of building up a comprehensive support system that would enable poor people to attain independence and dignity. This paper traces the history of how that system was adopted, and discusses how it is related to the Public Assistance Act. The paper also looks at how the system actually works, and points out the problems it has. The author argues that customized services designed by educated and experienced professional social workers are one of the keys to the success of this system

日本における盲導犬の普及に関する課題の考察

The number of guide dogs in Japan is much smaller than in Western countries. This paper summarizes the history of guide dogs in Japan, compares the development of the assistance dogs in Western countries, and points out problems that have hampered their spread in Japan. In the 1930s Western countries began breeding and training guide dogs, and in 1938 an American for the first time introduced a guide dog into Japan. But it was in 1957 that the first Japanese-trained dog for the visually handicapped began to serve. The Law enacted in 2002 legally defined how the dogs be trained. The author explores Japanese cultural and environmental restrictions in the propagation and training of guide dogs, the lack of social understanding towards the treatment of guide dogs, and points out that the dogs should be cared for properly. The author also points out that the lack of popularity of guide dogs will not be solved by simply increasing the number of the dogs. Steadfast steps towards further improvement of the support for the visually impaired such as the introduction of guide dog robots are also suggested