Tokyo, 31 January, /AJMEDIA/
A Japanese woman who served in the Self-Defense Force and was sexually assaulted by her colleagues said Monday she is suing the government and the perpetrators over the “superficial” apologies and mistreatment she received.
Last year, Rina Gonoi went public about the assaults she was subjected to, after an investigation was dropped on the grounds of insufficient evidence.
The SDF subsequently acknowledged the assaults and harassment that occurred in 2021, but only after public pressure by Gonoi, including a petition signed by over 100,000 people demanding an investigation.
In December, five Japanese soldiers were dismissed over the case, but Gonoi said Monday the apologies she has received were “superficial” and lawyers for the assailants continued to trivialize the incidents in discussions over a settlement.
“I didn’t want to choose the option of fighting, but I have not received a message that reassures me they really regret” what they did, she told reporters.
“Given the differences over the issue between their side and me, I think it’s necessary to open things up (to the public through the lawsuit), which I think will help prevent a repeat,” she added.
Gonoi is seeking a total of 7.5 million yen — 5.5 million from her attackers for mental distress, and two million from the government for failing to prevent the assaults and properly investigate them.
Her case is also being re-investigated by prosecutors who are weighing possible criminal charges after she lodged a complaint about the failure to indict the men involved, her lawyers said Monday.
The Ground Self-Defense Force acknowledged its probe found that Gonoi routinely faced sexual harassment and assault at her unit and during training sessions at Camp Koriyama in Fukushima Prefecture.
