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Japan's forced sterilization victim

Yumi Suzuki, one of the plaintiffs who sued the Japanese government over forced sterilization under the now-defunct eugenics protection law, is pictured at her home in Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture in western Japan, in March 2019.

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Japan's forced sterilization victim

Yumi Suzuki, one of the plaintiffs who sued the Japanese government over forced sterilization under the now-defunct eugenics protection law, speaks at a press conference after meeting with Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, who offered an apology, at the prime minister's office in Tokyo on Jan. 17, 2025. The Supreme Court ruled the law unconstitutional in July 2024 and ordered the government to pay damages. Suzuki was named to the BBC's list of 100 inspiring and influential women from around the world for 2024.

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Japan Diet enacts law to compensate forced sterilization victims

Junko Mihara, Japanese minister for policies related to children, bows during a plenary session of the House of Councillors in Tokyo on Oct. 8, 2024, after the Diet enacted a law to pay 15 million yen ($101,000) each to victims of forced sterilization surgery under a now-defunct eugenics protection law.

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Japan Diet enacts law to compensate forced sterilization victims

The Japanese House of Councillors approves legislation designed to pay 15 million yen ($101,000) each to victims of forced sterilization surgery under a now-defunct eugenics protection law, during a plenary session in Tokyo on Oct. 8, 2024.

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Japan Diet enacts law to compensate forced sterilization victims

The Japanese House of Councillors approves legislation designed to pay 15 million yen ($101,000) each to victims of forced sterilization surgery under a now-defunct eugenics protection law, during a plenary session in Tokyo on Oct. 8, 2024.

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Japan lower house passes forced sterilization compensation bill

Japan's House of Representatives passes a bill that requires the government to pay compensation to people who were forced to undergo sterilization surgery under a now-defunct eugenics protection law at a plenary session in Tokyo on Oct. 7, 2024.

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Japan lower house passes forced sterilization compensation bill

Junko Mihara, Japanese minister for policies related to children, stands at a House of Representatives plenary session in Tokyo on Oct. 7, 2024, after the passage of a bill requiring the government to compensate people who were forced to undergo sterilization surgery under a now-defunct eugenics protection law.

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Japan justice minister apologizes over forced sterilization

Japanese Justice Minister Ryuji Koizumi bows in apology in a meeting with plaintiffs at the ministry in Tokyo on Aug. 2, 2024, following the Supreme Court's decision issued the previous month that the government must pay damages to those who were forced to undergo sterilization surgery in the 1950s to 1970s under a now-defunct eugenics protection law.

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Japan top court orders damages for forced sterilization

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida expresses an apology at the premier's office in Tokyo on July 3, 2024, following Japan's Supreme Court's order earlier in the day to the government to pay damages to plaintiffs who were forced to undergo sterilization surgery in the 1950s to 1970s under a now-defunct eugenics protection law.

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Japan top court orders damages for forced sterilization

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida speaks to reporters at the premier's office in Tokyo on July 3, 2024, over the Supreme Court's order earlier in the day to the government to pay damages to plaintiffs who were forced to undergo sterilization surgery in the 1950s to 1970s under a now-defunct eugenics protection law.

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The protest against the tightening of the anti-abortion regulations in Poland

About 3.5 thousand, mainly young people, protested against the tightening of the anti-abortion regulations on October 25, 2020 in Katowice, Poland. On Thursday, October 22, the Polish Constitutional Court ruled that the abortion regulations due to a severe defect of an emryo are contrary to the Constitution, which caused protests in anti-government circles all over the country. Here: The girl takes photo of her dog which she took to the protest. Photo CTK/Grzegorz Klatka

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Damages suit over forced sterilization in Japan

Chieko Muto, a 71-year-old visually impaired woman, speaks at a press conference in Hamamatsu in Shizuoka Prefecture, central Japan, on July 3, 2020, after filing a lawsuit with a local court. Muto demanded 33 million yen ($307,000) in damages against the Japanese government over her forced sterilization in 1977 under the now-defunct eugenics protection law.

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Damages suit over forced sterilization in Japan

Chieko Muto, a 71-year-old visually impaired woman, speaks at a press conference in Hamamatsu in Shizuoka Prefecture, central Japan, on July 3, 2020, after filing a lawsuit with a local court. Muto demanded 33 million yen ($307,000) in damages against the Japanese government over her forced sterilization in 1977 under the now-defunct eugenics protection law.

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Damages suit over forced sterilization in Japan

Chieko Muto, a 71-year-old visually impaired woman, heads to the Hamamatsu branch of the Shizuoka District Court in central Japan on July 3, 2020, to file a lawsuit against the Japanese government, demanding it pay 33 million yen ($307,000) in damages over her forced sterilization in 1977 under the now-defunct eugenics protection law.

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Damages suit over forced sterilization in Japan

Chieko Muto, a 71-year-old visually impaired woman, heads to the Hamamatsu branch of the Shizuoka District Court in central Japan on July 3, 2020, to file a lawsuit against the Japanese government, demanding it pay 33 million yen ($307,000) in damages over her forced sterilization in 1977 under the now-defunct eugenics protection law.

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Damages suit over forced sterilization in Japan

Photo taken June 30, 2020, shows a courtroom of the Tokyo District Court that later in the day rejected a 30 million yen ($280,000) damages suit filed by a 77-year-old man who was sterilized against his will in 1957 under the now-defunct eugenics protection law. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Damages suit over forced sterilization in Japan

Lawyers meet the media in front of the Tokyo District Court on June 30, 2020, after the court rejected a 30 million yen ($280,000) damages suit filed by a 77-year-old man who was sterilized against his will in 1957 under the now-defunct eugenics protection law. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Damages suit over forced sterilization in Japan

Lawyers hold a banner reading "unjust ruling" in front of the Tokyo District Court on June 30, 2020, after the court rejected a 30 million yen ($280,000) damages suit filed by a 77-year-old man who was sterilized against his will in 1957 under the now-defunct eugenics protection law. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Damages suit over forced sterilization in Japan

Lawyers hold a banner reading "unjust ruling" in front of the Tokyo District Court on June 30, 2020, after the court rejected a 30 million yen ($280,000) damages suit filed by a 77-year-old man who was sterilized against his will in 1957 under the now-defunct eugenics protection law. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Damages suit over forced sterilization in Japan

Lawyers hold a banner reading "unjust ruling" in front of the Tokyo District Court on June 30, 2020, after the court rejected a 30 million yen ($280,000) damages suit filed by a 77-year-old man who was sterilized against his will in 1957 under the now-defunct eugenics protection law. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Damages suit over forced sterilization in Japan

Lawyers hold a banner reading "unjust ruling" in front of the Tokyo District Court on June 30, 2020, after the court rejected a 30 million yen ($280,000) damages suit filed by a 77-year-old man who was sterilized against his will in 1957 under the now-defunct eugenics protection law. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Damages suit over forced sterilization in Japan

A man (2nd from L, front) who was sterilized against his will in 1957 under the now-defunct eugenics protection law heads to the Tokyo District Court with his lawyers and supporters ahead of a ruling on his damages suit against the government on June 30, 2020. The court rejected the 30 million yen ($280,000) damages suit filed by the 77-year-old man. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Damages suit over forced sterilization in Japan

A man (2nd from L, front) who was sterilized against his will in 1957 under the now-defunct eugenics protection law heads to the Tokyo District Court with his lawyers and supporters ahead of a ruling on his damages suit against the government on June 30, 2020. The court rejected the 30 million yen ($280,000) damages suit filed by the 77-year-old man. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Damages suit over forced sterilization in Japan

A man (2nd from L, front) who was sterilized against his will in 1957 under the now-defunct eugenics protection law heads to the Tokyo District Court with his lawyers and supporters ahead of a ruling on his damages suit against the government on June 30, 2020. The court rejected the 30 million yen ($280,000) damages suit filed by the 77-year-old man. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Court ruling on defunct eugenics law

A lawyer holds a banner reading "Unjust Ruling" in front of the Sendai District Court in the northeastern Japan city on May 28, 2019. The court determined that the now-defunct eugenics protection law that mandated the government to stop people with intellectual disabilities from reproducing was unconstitutional, but it dismissed a damages suit filed by two women who underwent forced sterilization. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Court ruling on defunct eugenics law

A lawyer holds a banner reading "Unjust Ruling" in front of the Sendai District Court in the northeastern Japan city on May 28, 2019. The court determined that the now-defunct eugenics protection law that mandated the government to stop people with intellectual disabilities from reproducing was unconstitutional, but it dismissed a damages suit filed by two women who underwent forced sterilization. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Court ruling on defunct eugenics law

Lead lawyer Koji Niisato speaks in front of the Sendai District Court in the northeastern Japan city on May 28, 2019. The court determined that the now-defunct eugenics protection law that mandated the government to stop people with intellectual disabilities from reproducing was unconstitutional, but it dismissed a damages suit filed by two women, represented by Niisato, who underwent forced sterilization. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Court ruling on defunct eugenics law

Lead lawyer Koji Niisato speaks in front of the Sendai District Court in the northeastern Japan city on May 28, 2019. The court determined that the now-defunct eugenics protection law that mandated the government to stop people with intellectual disabilities from reproducing was unconstitutional, but it dismissed a damages suit filed by two women, represented by Niisato, who underwent forced sterilization. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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New law to redress sterilization victims

Photo taken on April 24, 2019, shows a plenary session of the Japanese parliament's House of Councillors, which unanimously enacted legislation the same day to redress people who had sterilization surgery under the now-defunct eugenics law. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Forced sterilization in Japan

House of Councillors lawmaker Hidehisa Otsuji meets the press in Tokyo on March 14, 2019, following a meeting of a cross-party lawmakers group, which he leads, tasked with exploring ways to help victims of a state sterilization program conducted under the now-defunct 1948 eugenics law. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Forced sterilization in Japan

House of Councillors lawmaker Hidehisa Otsuji speaks in Tokyo on March 14, 2019, during a meeting of a cross-party lawmakers group, which he leads, tasked with exploring ways to help victims of a state sterilization program conducted under the now-defunct 1948 eugenics law. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Forced sterilization in Japan

House of Councillors lawmaker Hidehisa Otsuji (C) meets the press in Tokyo on March 14, 2019, following a meeting of a cross-party lawmakers group, which he leads, tasked with exploring ways to help victims of a state sterilization program conducted under the now-defunct 1948 eugenics law. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Forced sterilization in Japan

House of Councillors lawmaker Hidehisa Otsuji (C) speaks in Tokyo on March 14, 2019, during a meeting of a cross-party lawmakers group, which he leads, tasked with exploring ways to help victims of a state sterilization program conducted under the now-defunct 1948 eugenics law. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Forced sterilization in Japan

House of Councillors lawmaker Hidehisa Otsuji speaks in Tokyo on March 14, 2019, during a meeting of a cross-party lawmakers group, which he leads, tasked with exploring ways to help victims of a state sterilization program conducted under the now-defunct 1948 eugenics law. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Damages suit over forced sterilization in Japan

Supporters of a Japanese married couple seeking damages from the government march to the Sapporo District Court in Hokkaido on June 28, 2018, to file a lawsuit over the wife's forced sterilization and abortion carried out under the now-defunct eugenics protection law. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Damages suit over forced sterilization in Japan

Plaintiff Kazumi Watanabe (2nd from L) speaks in front of the Kumamoto District Court in southwestern Japan on June 28, 2018, before filing a damages suit against the government over his forced sterilization carried out under the now-defunct eugenics protection law. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Damages suit over forced sterilization in Japan

Plaintiff Kazumi Watanabe (front C) and his supporters march to the Kumamoto District Court in southwestern Japan on June 28, 2018, to file a damages suit against the government over his forced sterilization carried out under the now-defunct eugenics protection law. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Lawsuit over forced sterilization in Japan

Lawyers and other people representing a Japanese man seeking damages from the Japanese government march to the Tokyo District Court on May 17, 2018, to file a lawsuit over forced sterilization carried out under the now-defunct eugenics protection law.(Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Lawsuit over forced sterilization in Japan

Lawyers and other people representing a Japanese man seeking damages from the Japanese government march to the Tokyo District Court on May 17, 2018, to file a lawsuit over forced sterilization carried out under the now-defunct eugenics protection law.(Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Sterilization documents under eugenics law found at Tokyo hospital

Photo taken on May 8, 2018, shows documents from 1950 to 1963 found at Matsuzawa Hospital in Tokyo regarding issues related to the sterilization of people under the now-defunct eugenics protection law. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Woman sues Japan gov't over forced sterilization under eugenics law

Lawyers and other representatives of a woman seeking damages from the Japanese government over her forced sterilization under a now-defunct eugenic protection law meet the press in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, in northeastern Japan, on Jan. 30, 2018. The woman, in her 60s, filed a lawsuit seeking 11 million yen ($101,000) in damages and an apology from the state. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Woman sues Japan gov't over forced sterilization under eugenics law

The sister-in-law of a woman who is seeking damages from the Japanese government over her forced sterilization under the now-defunct eugenic protection law meets the press in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture in northeastern Japan on Jan. 30, 2018 after the woman filed a lawsuit with a local court earlier in the day. The woman, in her 60s, demanded 11 million yen ($101,000) in damages and an apology from the state over her forced sterilization when she was a teenager under the 1948 law. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Woman sues Japan gov't over forced sterilization under eugenics law

The sister-in-law of a woman who is seeking damages from the Japanese government over her forced sterilization under the now-defunct eugenic protection law meets the press in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture in northeastern Japan on Jan. 30, 2018 after the woman filed a lawsuit with a local court earlier in the day. The woman, in her 60s, demanded 11 million yen ($101,000) in damages and an apology from the state over her forced sterilization when she was a teenager under the 1948 law. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Woman sues Japan gov't over forced sterilization under eugenics law

The sister-in-law (C) of a woman who is seeking damages from the Japanese government over her forced sterilization under the now-defunct eugenic protection law meets the press in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture in northeastern Japan on Jan. 30, 2018 after the woman filed a lawsuit with a local court earlier in the day. The woman, in her 60s, demanded 11 million yen ($101,000) in damages and an apology from the state over her forced sterilization when she was a teenager under the 1948 law. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Woman sues Japan gov't over forced sterilization under eugenics law

Lawyers and other people representing a woman who is seeking damages from the Japanese government over her forced sterilization under the now-defunct eugenic protection law walk toward the Sendai District Court in Miyagi Prefecture in northeastern Japan on Jan. 30, 2018. The woman, in her 60s, filed a lawsuit with the district court later in the day, seeking 11 million yen ($101,000) in damages and an apology from the state over her forced sterilization when she was a teenager under the 1948 law. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Woman sues Japan gov't over forced sterilization under eugenics law

Lawyers and other people representing a woman who is seeking damages from the Japanese government over her forced sterilization under the now-defunct eugenic protection law walk toward the Sendai District Court in Miyagi Prefecture in northeastern Japan on Jan. 30, 2018. The woman, in her 60s, filed a lawsuit with the district court later in the day, seeking 11 million yen ($101,000) in damages and an apology from the state over her forced sterilization when she was a teenager under the 1948 law. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo