Former Soldiers Convicted in Landmark Sexual Assault Case that Captivated Social Media: A Japanese Court's Verdict
Former Japanese soldiers convicted of sexual assault in a landmark case that shook social media, revealing a pervasive culture of harassment within the military
Three former soldiers were found guilty of sexual assault by a Japanese court on Tuesday following a well-known case that brought attention to the prevalent culture of harassment in the military, as reported by public broadcaster NHK. The Fukushima District Court declared that the three men had forcibly committed indecent acts against Rina Gonoi, a former female subordinate in the Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF), who fought to hold them accountable through the legal system and social media.
The trio was sentenced to a suspended two-year prison term, as reported by NHK. This could potentially spare them from serving time behind bars if they refrain from committing any crimes in the next two years. NHK also reported that the three men used martial arts moves to restrain Gonoi and commit lewd acts. They confessed to pinning her down but denied engaging in lewd conduct. All three had pleaded not guilty.
Gonoi revealed that she suffered daily physical and verbal sexual abuse during her time in the JSDF and plans to seek justice against her abusers after leaving the military in June 2022. Despite initial skepticism from authorities and two dropped investigations due to lack of evidence, she is determined to fight back on social media.
The action was uncommon in a nation where survivors of sexual assault may encounter criticism for speaking out. However, it yielded results when the Defense Ministry of Japan ultimately initiated a comprehensive inquiry into sexual harassment within the JSDF.
CNN
She dreamed of defending Japan. Instead, her fellow soldiers sexually assaulted her
"I wanted to assist others who, like me, had experienced sexual harassment while serving in the JSDF. I hoped for the perpetrators to apologize and take responsibility for their actions, in order to prevent others from suffering as I did. That is why I decided to speak out," Gonoi told CNN in July.
Following a reopened investigation, Gonois lawyers revealed that she had endured daily physical and verbal sexual harassment between late 2020 and August 2021. As a result, the Ministry of Defense made a rare admission of guilt and issued a public apology. Five servicemen were dishonorably dismissed and four others were punished, according to NHK.
The Ground Self-Defense Force Chief of Staff, Yoshihide Yoshida, offered a rare apology in September 2022, expressing deep regret to Ms. Gonoi for her prolonged suffering. However, Gonoi found this insufficient and continued to pursue legal action through criminal and civil cases, filing lawsuits against the government and her alleged assailants.
In August, a report commissioned by the Ministry of Defense revealed a deep-rooted culture of harassment and fear within Japan's military. The review uncovered 1,325 instances of harassment, with some victims expressing feeling neglected or disregarded by counselors. Additionally, there were reports of victims not receiving any response from the JSDF after reporting their harassment, despite meeting with counselors. Japanese Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada acknowledged the need for "drastic measures" and vowed to implement reforms.
Speaking out
Gonoi recounted how she viewed JSDF members as heroes during her childhood, and how she aspired to be like them, especially after female officers came to her aid in the aftermath of the devastating 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami that ravaged her hometown of Higashi-Matsushima in Miyagi prefecture, Japan.
Years later, she was assigned to a JSDF station in Fukushima, another area devastated by the 2011 disaster. It was there, she told CNN, that she first encountered sexual harassment.
"I would receive comments about my body and the size of my breasts. Sometimes, men would unexpectedly hug me in the hallways on a daily basis," Gonoi remembered from her time at the station.
In August 2021, the final breaking point occurred for Gonoi when she reported being pinned to a dormitory floor by several senior male officers who simulated sexual intercourse. Despite her efforts to report her assailants, her claims were dismissed and no internal action was taken within the JSDF.
Gonoi stated that initially, they refused to acknowledge their wrongdoing and attempted to conceal what she had experienced. However, after a re-investigation was ordered, they finally admitted to the mistreatment she had suffered. Additionally, an external investigation was abandoned due to a "lack of evidence," as the male personnel who had witnessed her assault refused to testify.
Going public forced Gonoi to push the JSDF to reconsider. The case escalated to the highest levels, with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida acknowledging during a parliamentary meeting last October that the Self-Defense Force and the Ministry of Defense mishandled sexual harassment cases.
He stated that both the government and Defense Ministry were dedicated to eliminating all types of harassment.
"We understand that those responsible for sexual harassment will face harsh punishment. We are also carrying out a comprehensive defense inspection to identify harassment fully. Our commitment is to eradicate all forms of harassment," he stated.
CNNs Jessie Yeung, Emiko Jozuka, Marc Stewart, Junko Ogura, Moeri Karasawa and Daniel Campisi contributed reporting.
