Japan Press Weekly

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2013 May 8 - 14 [CIVIL RIGHTS]

Top court rejects Tokyo air raid victims’ demands

The Supreme Court on May 8 handed to plaintiffs a decision to dismiss their demands for state compensation for and an apology to U.S. Tokyo air raid victims, ending the 6-year lawsuit battle.

A group of 77 plaintiffs who are the survivors and bereaved families of victims of the 1945 Great Tokyo Air Raid by the U.S. forces argued that the state only compensates former Japanese military personnel for war damages while neglecting support for civilian war victims, which runs counter to equality under the law guaranteed by the Constitution.

At a press conference on the following day, the plaintiffs and their lawyers said, “The top court’s decision violates the Constitution and is unfair.”

Recalling their 6-year-long legal struggle, plaintiffs’ group head Hoshino Hiroshi said, “I’m really angry with the Supreme Court ruling. We became orphans or got injured by the government-initiated war and were forced to endure enormous sufferings. The court is astonishingly cold hearted.”

They expressed their determination to increase their movement to require the government to recompense air raid victims.

In a similar lawsuit filed by Osaka air raid victims, plaintiffs have made an appeal to the Supreme Court against district and high courts’ decisions.

Related past articles:
> Osaka air raid victims bring case to Supreme Court [January 30, 2013]
> Court rejects Tokyo air raid victims’ compensation claim [April 26, 2012]