TOKYO: Japanese Prime Minister KISHIDA Fumio on Wednesday apologized directly to victims of forced sterilizations conducted under the now-defunct eugenic protection law.

“The government’s responsibility is extremely serious,” Kishida told the victims in a meeting at the prime minister’s office. “I am sincerely sorry.”

“The old law was an inexcusable violation of human rights that tramples on individual dignity,” he said.

Kishida explained plans to work with ruling and opposition parties to create a new compensation program for victims.

“We will reach a conclusion as soon as possible” on the new compensation program, the prime minister said. Those who will receive compensation under the new program will include victims who are not currently plaintiffs and their spouses as well, he said.

Those present at the meeting included plaintiffs for related lawsuits in which the Supreme Court earlier this month found the old law unconstitutional and ordered the government to pay damages.

Kishida said that the government will stop seeking the application of the 20-year statute of limitations for damages claims in pending legal lawsuits over forced sterilizations.

By doing this, the government will “aim for a speedy resolution through out-of-court settlement,” Kishida said, adding that the government will create a forum for talks with victims.

The top court ruled on July 3 that the statute of limitations did not apply and finalized damages of up to 16.5 million yen per victim.

The victims handed Kishida written demands such as compensation for all victims and a review of the former law by a team including third-party members.
The former law, enacted in 1948, was used to force people with disabilities to undergo sterilizations, leading to approximately 25,000 people undergoing such procedures until the law was revised in 1996.

A relief law was enacted in 2019 to offer 3.2 million yen in one-off payment to each victim, but only 1,110 people had received this as of May 31.

A suprapartisan group of lawmakers has started deliberations on a new compensation measure following the Supreme Court ruling. It is expected to submit related legislation to an extraordinary parliament session expected this autumn.

JIJI Press