Former war orphans sue Japan's government

Former Japanese war orphans who returned to Japan several decades after they were left behind in China at the end of WW II are now demanding that the Japanese government pay 33 million yen per person in compensation for abandoning them and failing to support their life in Japan.

A group of 637 former war orphans on December 20 filed a lawsuit against the government, saying that the government is to blame for neglecting thousands of former Japanese war orphans left in China and for refusing for many years to welcome them back to Japan.

The plaintiffs are also demanding that the government provide the war-displaced people with enough support to help them reestablish their lives in Japan as Japanese citizens.

The plaintiffs, who represent about 25 percent of all Japanese left-behind in China who now live in Japan, are supported by about 180 lawyers.

Before filing the suit in the Tokyo District Court, about 800 plaintiffs, lawyers, and their supporters marched in demonstration through the administrative district of Tokyo, chanting, "Let us live with human dignity."

A 61-year-old woman, marching with her 5-year-grandchild, said, "There is no job available for me to earn my living because I can't speak Japanese." (end)