Japanese woman sexually assaulted by male soldiers in camp

PHOTO AFP TOKYO -- A woman who was sexually assaulted and repeatedly harassed by male members while she served in Japan's Ground Self-Defense Force GSDF has filed a civil suit against the government and her five assailants, she told a press conference Monday.

Rina Gonoi, 23, who left the force in June 2022 and posted online about a wide range of abuses that took place at the Camp Koriyama in Fukushima Prefecture, filed a suit at the Yokohama District Court.

Gonoi, who informed the Defense Ministry of her sexual assaults last June and called for an investigation, is seeking damages from the state and her five attackers, saying she was abused daily between fall 2020 and August 2021.

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The Defense Ministry has confirmed her allegations and admitted that the male members of the males pressed their hips against her body during meals, as well as being the victim of repeated sexual harassment, Gonoi was groped and forced to the ground, according to reports.

In September of last year, the ministry issued an apology to Gonoi.

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Some of the assailants have been found guilty of sexually harassing other female members at Camp Koriyama.

Five of her abusers in their 20 s and 30 s, whose ranks included sergeant and sergeant 1st class, as well as a master sergeant in his 40 s who was found to have ordered the sexual attacks, were dishonorably discharged in December 2022.

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The unit commander, who disregarded Gonoi's cries for an investigation, was suspended for six months.

Gonoi's civil action was prompted by receiving comments from her assailants making light of their abuses during a meeting with them, she said.