Japan’s Supreme Court has ruled that the government must provide compensation to people who suffered because of forced sterilization under Japan’s now-defunct eugenics law. The decision comes after a long legal battle that drew attention to a dark chapter in the country’s medical and social policy, where coercive procedures affected many lives and left lasting scars. The ruling signals a formal acknowledgment that the state bears responsibility for actions carried out in the name of public health, and it adds another layer to the broader reckoning with past injustices in Japan.
The lawsuit was filed by 39 plaintiffs who argued that the practice, common in Japan during the latter half of the 20th century, violated their constitutional rights and personal autonomy. Forced sterilization touched thousands of people with a range of medical, genetic, and mental health conditions. Many underwent procedures between the 1950s and 1970s, often without genuine consent, sometimes due to pressure or implied assurances tied to welfare, education, or social welfare systems. The plaintiffs contended that the state’s involvement and policies turned medical care into a tool of population control rather than a patient-centered practice, leaving victims to live with lifelong consequences and stigma.
Dating back to 1948, the so‑called “eugenics protection” law endured until its repeal in 1996. It allowed doctors to perform sterilizations to prevent the birth of individuals deemed “unfit,” a term that reflected the era’s discriminatory rhetoric and policy goals. Official calculations released over the years have shown that around 16,500 people were sterilized under this framework, while another roughly 8,500 consented under pressure or unclear circumstances, raising questions about true voluntariness and informed consent. The cumulative toll reveals a program that extended beyond medical practice into social engineering, with enduring effects on families and communities.
One of the victims was a young boy who was persuaded to undergo a vasectomy at age 14 and later spent years in an institution designed for children with behavioral challenges. The case underscores how deeply these policies disrupted personal trajectories, family relationships, and independence. The consequences extended into adulthood, shaping opportunities, self-perception, and the capacity to pursue a normal life. Stories like his are emblematic of the broader human cost that lies at the heart of this historical issue.
“I have lived 66 years of suffering because of state operations,” the man reflected, capturing a sentiment shared by many affected individuals and their families. The emotional and psychological burden has persisted long after the procedures themselves, fueling a demand for acknowledgment, accountability, and proper redress. The court’s decision to provide compensation is framed by the need to recognize that state actions caused harm and that financial redress, while not a full remedy, is a crucial component of restoring some measure of dignity and certainty to those affected.
The Japanese government previously offered a one-time payment of 3.2 million yen for each sterilization victim after lawmakers passed a 2019 law. Victims and advocates argued that the amount did not adequately reflect the severity of the harm, the lifelong impact, or the ongoing needs of survivors and their families. The latest ruling expands the compensation framework, with individual payments ranging from 11 million to 16 million yen, while the government will also provide 2.2 million yen to the widow of one victim. This legal development marks a significant shift in government responsibility and sets a precedent for how Japan addresses past human rights violations tied to state policy and medical authority.
Previously, Japan’s public discourse on accountability for these acts has included broader debates about consent, guardianship, and the rights of people with disabilities. As lawmakers, courts, and civil society continue to examine the legacy of the eugenics era, survivors and their families seek to ensure that memory translates into policy reforms that prevent recurrence and that restorative justice remains a central consideration in future health and social welfare programs.