ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the historic background of eugenics in Japan, but focuses on the voices of those who have made these changes through social action, including strategic litigations, asking for apology and compensation for survivors. A survivor of the sterilisation, a woman with intellectual disability, sued the state of Japan on 30 January 2018, asking for reparations for the amount of 33 million Japanese Yen. The following are the voices of those who have survived involuntary sterilisations under the Eugenics Protection Law and sued the government. The political momentum created by Sato Yumi and others who followed, including Kita Saburo, Sora Hibari and Kojima Kikuo, has led to the proposal for a law to provide an apology and compensation from members of parliament from the governing coalition. Evident from the different and diverse voices that have made this change, is the clear need for the broad coalition and inclusivity to shift public opinion and poli.
