Judgment regarding forced sterilization case in Osaka to be handed down on November 30

By Barrier Free Japan, extracts translated from The Mainichi Shimbun

July 17 2020

OSAkA – Three people, a married couple in their 70s in Osaka Prefecture who have hearing impairments, and a woman (77) in the Kinki region who has intellectual disabilities, were allegedly forced to undergo sterilization surgery under the former Eugenic Protection Law (1948-96).

A verbal argument for a lawsuit seeking a total of 55 million yen from the state was held on the 17th in the Osaka District Court.

The wife of the couple who have hearing impairments said in sign language, “I wanted to raise children and have a happy family. I couldn’t control the anger of having an operation without knowing it.” The judgement will be handed down on 30 November.