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Rina Gonoi, the former soldier who was sexually assaulted while serving in Japan’s Self-Defense Forces (SDF), has reached a settlement with two remaining defendants – the state and an ex-colleague.<\/p>\n
Her attorney said on Monday that Gonoi will receive 1.6 million yen ($10,400; \u00a37,600) from the Japanese government, but no compensation or apology from the former colleague.<\/p>\n
It marks the end of Gonoi’s civil lawsuit against five ex-soldiers and the government in a case that has drawn international attention. She reached settlements with four of the five earlier.<\/p>\n
A 2023 ruling in a separate criminal case found three of the ex-soldiers guilty of sexual assault.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Gonoi’s case was a landmark one in Japan, where it is rare for victims of sexual violence to speak out. She put her story on YouTube in 2022.<\/p>\n
But public discussions about sexual violence have increased in recent years, <\/b>following high-profile cases like journalist Shiori Ito’s court battle against her alleged rapist and the expose of J-pop giant Johnny Kitagawa.<\/p>\n
Gonoi said at a press conference on Monday that she experienced a “very long and heavy time” since speaking out more than four years ago.<\/p>\n
“During these 4.5 years I came to understand first-hand just how heavy the weight of speaking up is,” she said.<\/p>\n
“Even so, I did not regret speaking out,” she added.<\/p>\n
Earlier this month, the 26-year-old wrote on X that her years-long legal battle had “come to an end” and thanked everyone who had supported her during the journey.<\/p>\n
Gonoi had sought 5.5 million yen ($40,000; \u00a332,000) in damages from the men for causing her mental distress, and an additional 2 million yen from the state for its failure to prevent abuse.<\/p>\n
Warning: This article contains graphic descriptions of sexual assault<\/i><\/p>\n
In 2022, Gonoi posted a video on YouTube that garnered attention both in Japan and abroad.<\/p>\n
She alleged that in 2021, three of her male colleagues had pinned her down and pressed their crotches against her. She said her complaints to her superiors were dismissed.<\/p>\n
As Gonoi’s story went viral, more than 100,000 people signed a petition calling for the defence ministry to investigate her allegations of sexual violence during her time in service.<\/p>\n
The case also prompted a sweeping investigation into the ranks of the SDF, where defence ministry <\/b>officials uncovered more than 1,000 other reports of sexual harassment.<\/p>\n
Her three attackers were convicted of sexual assault and handed two-year prison sentences in 2023. But the sentences were suspended for four years, which means they did not actually have to serve time in prison.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n