April 26, 2012
The Tokyo High Court on April 25 turned down Tokyo air raid victims’ demand for state compensation for their pain and suffering.
The plaintiffs were 113 sufferers and their believed family members of the massive Tokyo air raid by U.S. forces on March 10, 1945. They were demanding that the national government offer them an apology and 1.24 billion yen in compensation.
At a press conference after the ruling, plaintiffs and their lawyers announced their intention to appeal to a higher court. Lawyer Nakayama Taketoshi pointed out that the government has failed to provide compensation to civilian war victims while state compensation given to military personnel has exceeded 50 trillion yen.
Kimori Mitsuru, a 79-year-old plaintiff, said, “The court did not look into the actual conditions of air raid victims who have been left out of the picture for 67 years since the end of the war. The ruling goes against the very conscience of the public.”
The plaintiffs were 113 sufferers and their believed family members of the massive Tokyo air raid by U.S. forces on March 10, 1945. They were demanding that the national government offer them an apology and 1.24 billion yen in compensation.
At a press conference after the ruling, plaintiffs and their lawyers announced their intention to appeal to a higher court. Lawyer Nakayama Taketoshi pointed out that the government has failed to provide compensation to civilian war victims while state compensation given to military personnel has exceeded 50 trillion yen.
Kimori Mitsuru, a 79-year-old plaintiff, said, “The court did not look into the actual conditions of air raid victims who have been left out of the picture for 67 years since the end of the war. The ruling goes against the very conscience of the public.”
