In a groundbreaking resolution that concludes a highly publicized legal battle, former Japanese Self-Defense Forces soldier Rina Gonoi has reached a comprehensive settlement with the Japanese government and her final remaining defendant. The settlement, announced Monday by Gonoi’s legal representatives, marks the conclusion of her civil lawsuit against five former colleagues and the state.
Under the terms of the agreement, the Japanese government will pay Gonoi 1.6 million yen (approximately $10,400) in compensation. Notably, the former colleague defendant provided neither financial compensation nor a formal apology as part of the resolution. This development follows Gonoi’s previous settlements with four other defendants earlier in the proceedings.
The case originated from a 2021 incident where three male colleagues physically restrained Gonoi and pressed their bodies against her in a sexually suggestive manner. When Gonoi reported the assault to her superiors, her complaints were systematically dismissed, prompting her to take unprecedented action.
In 2022, Gonoi courageously shared her experience through a YouTube video that rapidly gained international attention, amassing over 100,000 signatures on a petition demanding official investigation. Her advocacy triggered a sweeping Defense Ministry probe that uncovered more than 1,000 additional reports of sexual harassment within Japan’s military ranks.
While a separate 2023 criminal case resulted in convictions for three ex-soldiers, their two-year prison sentences were suspended for four years, meaning they served no actual incarceration time.
At a Monday press conference, Gonoi reflected on her 4.5-year journey, describing it as “very long and heavy” but expressing no regret for speaking out. The now-26-year-old recently acknowledged on social media that her legal battle had finally concluded, thanking supporters who stood by her throughout the process.
Gonoi had initially sought 5.5 million yen in damages from the perpetrators for psychological distress and an additional 2 million yen from the state for its failure to prevent the abuse. Her case has become symbolic of Japan’s evolving conversation around sexual violence, joining other high-profile cases that have broken traditional silence on the issue.