“8 people said they had undergone sterilization surgery at Niigata hospitals it has been learned. Niigata city and prefecture surveyed medical institutions and welfare facilities revealing the 8 instances of forced sterilization.”
“The resolutions, addressed to the prime minister, health minister and the heads of both houses of the Diet, are not legally binding, but are nevertheless expected to pressure the central government and the national assembly to establish a program to support those people who were targeted for the surgeries because of their mental or physical disabilities.”
“[S]ome 16,500 people were forcibly sterilized in this way. However, the ministry was able to find only 6,066 applications to conduct the procedure, now considered inhumane, of which 5,676 were approved. Of these, records of 4,987 people receiving these surgeries have been found, though only 3,033 of their names could be confirmed.”
“Two of them were written with their names. The defense team asked, “I was surprised to find it in less than half a day and the prefecture was not examined at all.”
“NHK aired two documentaries on Saturday 21st July 2018, one on NHK G, it’s main channel at 9pm about Sagamihara, and one on its documentary channel, NHK E at 11pm about forced sterilization.”
“The decision reflects the parties’ consensus that there must be redress soon for the victims, who are advanced in age, without waiting for court decisions. In Japan, it usually takes several years for district courts to hand down rulings after lawsuits are filed, and the cases can be further prolonged if appealed.”
“73-year-old Kazumi Watanabe filed a lawsuit in Kumamoto for 33 million yen in compensation. When he was around 10 years old, he claims that unbeknownst to him, his testicles were removed at a hospital where he was taken by his mother.”
