Japanese ex-soldier reaches settlements in landmark sex abuse case

Rina Gonoi, the former soldier who was sexually assaulted while serving in Japan's Self-Defense Forces (SDF), has reached a settlement with two remaining defendants - the state and an ex-colleague.Her attorney said on Monday that Gonoi will receive 1.6 million yen ($10,400; £7,600) from the Japanese government, but no compensation or apology from the former colleague.It marks the end of Gonoi's civil lawsuit against five ex-soldiers and the government in a case that has drawn international attention. She reached settlements with four of the five earlier.A 2023 ruling in a separate criminal case found three of the ex-soldiers guilty of sexually assault.Gonoi's case was a landmark one in Japan, where it is rare for victims of sexual violence to speak out. She put her story on YouTube in 2022.But public discussions about sexual violence have increased in recent years, following high-profile cases like journalist Shiori Ito's court battle against her alleged rapist and the expose of J-pop giant Johnny Kitagawa.Gonoi said at a press conference on Monday that she experienced a "very long and heavy time" since speaking out more than four years ago."During these 4.5 years I came to understand first-hand just how heavy the weight of speaking up is," she said."Even so, I did not regret speaking out," she added.Earlier this month, the 26-year-old wrote on X that her years-long legal battle had "come to an end" and thanked everyone who had supported her during the journey.Gonoi had sought 5.5 million yen ($40,000; £32,000) in damages from the men for causing her mental distress, and an additional 2 million yen from the state for its failure to prevent abuse.Warning: This article contains graphic descriptions of sexual assaultIn 2022, Gonoi posted a video on YouTube that garnered attention both in Japan and abroad.She alleged that in 2021, three of her male colleagues had pinned her down and pressed their crotches against her. She said her complaints to her superiors were dismissed.As Gonoi's story went viral, more than 100,000 people signed a petition calling for the defence ministry to investigate her allegations of sexual violence during her time in service.The case also prompted a sweeping investigation into the ranks of the SDF, where defence ministry officials uncovered more than 1,000 other reports of sexual harassment.Her three attackers were convicted of sexual assault and handed two-year prison sentences in 2023. But the sentences were suspended for four years, which means they did not actually have to serve time in prison.