“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.”
“Two more lawsuits were filed against the central government on June 28 over forced sterilization, including one by a couple who say the wife was also coerced into having an abortion.”
“These cases are the second en masse lawsuits surrounding the old eugenics law following those filed in the Sendai District Court on May 17, and the Kumamoto case is the first to be filed in western Japan. This is also the first time a case has been brought before a court in which a plaintiff was subject to both a forced abortion and a forced sterilization surgery. The new suit brings the number of people nationwide who have filed compensation lawsuits against the central government over the law to seven.”
“A group organized by disabled people and supporters “The party to create Oita Prefecture where everyone can live in peace” will hold a symposium “Think about the weight of life” from 2 pm on October 30 2018 at the Compa Hall in Oita city. It is free and open to all to participate.”
“The government contended in court that if victims sought compensation, they could have used the 1947 State Redress Law in the absence of any law specifically designed to deal with forced sterilization, despite never having recommended its use for that purpose before.”
Barrier Free Japan