WAM NET (Welfare and Medical Service Agency Hub)

WAM NET is a national information portal operated by the Welfare and Medical Service Agency (独立行政法人 福祉医療機構), a public agency that provides official information on Japan’s health, medical, and welfare systems. The website brings together resources covering disability welfare (障害者福祉), healthcare, long-term care, and services for children and families. For parents trying to understand Japan’s disability support system, it is one of the most reliable places to start, offering official guidance and practical information in one place.

The disability section explains how Japan’s disability welfare system works through easy-to-understand guides, handbooks, and service information. It also includes searchable databases of disability welfare service providers (障害福祉サービス等情報検索), allowing families to find and compare providers across the country. In addition, WAM NET publishes third-party service evaluations that can help families make more informed decisions. The site also explains the disability dependents’ mutual aid system (障害者扶養共済制度), a program that helps parents provide long-term financial security for a child with a disability after they are no longer able to do so themselves.

One especially helpful section for families with young children is Suku-Suku Support (すくすくサポート), which focuses on child development, growth, and disability. It explains where parents can seek advice if they have concerns about a child’s development, introduces the types of support services that may be available, and outlines the allowances and benefits families may be eligible to receive. The website also includes information on children’s and family services, as well as disaster preparedness for people who may need additional assistance during emergencies.

WAM NET serves the whole of Japan and links users to local government services and resources in each prefecture and municipality. While it does not provide disability services directly, it helps families understand how the system works and where to find the appropriate support in their own community.

The website is available in Japanese only, but browser translation works well for most of its content, making it a useful resource for foreign families who want to better understand Japan’s disability, healthcare, and welfare systems.