Rina Gonoi, a former soldier who was sexually assaulted while serving in Japan’s Self-Defense Forces (SDF), has reached a settlement with the two remaining defendants – the state and a former colleague.
Gonoi will receive 1.6 million yen ($10,400; £7,600) from the Japanese government, but there has been no compensation or apology from the former colleague, her lawyer said on Monday.
It marks the end of a civil lawsuit brought by Gonet against five former soldiers and the government that attracted international attention. She earlier reached settlements with four of the five.
In 2023, a ruling in a separate criminal case found three former soldiers guilty of sexual assault.
Gouchi’s case is landmark in Japan, where victims of sexual violence rarely come forward to speak out. She posted her story on YouTube in 2022.
But public discussion of sexual violence has increased in recent years with high-profile cases such as journalist Shiori Ito’s court case against an alleged rapist and the exposé of Japanese pop music mogul Johnny Kitakawa.
Gonoy told a news conference on Monday that she had gone through a “very long and heavy time” since speaking out more than four years ago.
“In these 4 1/2 years, I have learned firsthand the importance of speaking out,” she said.
“Even so, I don’t regret speaking out,” she added.
Earlier this month, the 26-year-old wrote on X that her years-long legal battle was “over” and thanked everyone who had supported her through the process.
Gonoy is seeking 5.5 million yen ($40,000; £32,000) in damages for the emotional distress the men caused her, and an additional 2 million yen in damages from the state for failing to prevent the abuse.
WARNING: This article contains graphic depictions of sexual assault
In 2022, Goi posted a video on YouTube that attracted attention in Japan and abroad.
She claims that in 2021, three of her male colleagues pushed her down and pinned her with their crotches. She said her complaint to superiors was dismissed.
As Gonoy’s story went viral, more than 100,000 people signed a petition calling on the Department of Defense to investigate allegations of sexual violence during her service.
The case also triggered a sweeping investigation into the SDF ranks, with Defense Department officials uncovering more than 1,000 other reports of sexual harassment.
In 2023, three attackers were convicted of sexual assault and sentenced to two years in prison. But the sentences were suspended for four years, meaning they didn’t actually have to serve time in prison.
