Ex-Soldier Rina Gonoi Wins Sexual Assault Case, Prompting Reforms in Japan's Military

The landmark case led to a military-wide investigation, uncovering widespread problems and prompting calls for fundamental improvements in the Self Defense Force.

• Rina Gonoi, a former soldier in Japan's Self Defense Force (SDF), has won her court case against three former soldiers who sexually assaulted her, prompting a military-wide investigation into sexual harassment.
• The case, initially dropped by authorities, was reopened in September 2022 after Gonoi demanded a reinvestigation, leading to the uncovering of widespread problems within the SDF.
• Following the case, the Ground Self Defense Force partially acknowledged the misconduct, apologised, and took disciplinary action against several soldiers.
• An expert panel investigating Japan's military found widespread cover-ups and reluctance among supervisors to deal with harassment, recommending fundamental improvements.
• Despite the victory, Gonoi faced backlash for speaking up, highlighting the challenges faced by victims of sexual misconduct in Japan, which ranks near the bottom in international gender equality surveys.

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