Japan ex-soldiers deny sex abuse in high-profile case

Four out of the five Japanese ex-soldiers who were accused of sexually abusing a fellow soldier in a highly publicized case have denied the allegations during the first hearing of a civil lawsuit, despite having previously apologized to the victim.

“The case, brought forward by former soldier Rina Gonoi, has sparked a rare public discussion about sexual assault in Japan.”

“Gonoi, aged 23, claims that she was subjected to harassment by multiple male colleagues during her time in the army. She is seeking 5.5 million yen ($40,000) in damages from her attackers for the mental distress caused and an additional two million yen from the government for its failure to prevent the assaults or conduct a proper investigation.”

“In a separate criminal case, three ex-soldiers were charged in March for the sexual abuse against Gonoi.”

“During the recent hearing, four of the five ex-servicemen argued that “there was no sexual violence” and that they were only performing judo moves, according to reports from Japanese media outlets including TBS and TV Asahi. The fifth ex-soldier admitted to the accusations and is seeking a settlement.”

“In October, four of the five men had privately apologized to Gonoi, although it remains unclear if these were the same four individuals who later denied the allegations. Gonoi expressed her disappointment with their denial, stating that she now believes their apologies were insincere. She described feeling a mix of sadness, frustration, and anger in response to their denials.”

“Despite the ex-soldiers’ denial, the state reportedly acknowledged during the hearing that sexual violence had indeed been committed against Gonoi. The defense ministry’s internal investigation in September confirmed multiple instances of assault against her.”

“Earlier this year, Gonoi disclosed in an interview with MMC correspondent that she faced daily harassment after joining the military in 2020. During a drill in 2021, three colleagues reportedly pinned her to the ground, forcibly spread her legs, and pressed their crotches against her repeatedly. She reported the incident, but the internal investigation concluded that there was insufficient evidence to proceed.”

“It was only after Gonoi made her case public and launched a petition that the investigation was reopened, leading to criminal charges being filed.”