Reiwa 7 (Wa) 55 Damages Claim Case

In April 2025, a group of South Korean former "comfort women" and bereaved families, including surviving victim Lee Yong-soo, filed a damages lawsuit (Reiwa 7 (Wa) No. 55) against the Japanese government at the Tokyo District Court. The plaintiffs demanded an official apology and financial compensation, arguing that the Japanese military's systematic sexual slavery system constituted crimes against humanity, and that the government has failed to accept genuine legal responsibility. The lawsuit directly challenges the 1965 Claims Settlement Agreement and the 2015 bilateral deal, asserting that individual rights to reparation were not extinguished. The case, filed while only a few survivors remain, seeks recognition of state liability for colonial-era atrocities.

As of July 2026, the Tokyo District Court has conducted several preparatory hearings but has not yet issued a ruling on the merits. The litigation remains ongoing, with no final judgment rendered.

Whether the Japanese government can invoke state immunity for wartime sexual slavery; whether individual claims were fully and finally settled by the 1965 Agreement on the Settlement of Problems Concerning Property and Claims and the 2015 comfort women agreement; and whether the statute of limitations bars such historical claims.

The case has reignited intense debate over historical accountability in Northeast Asia, further complicating already strained Japan-South Korea diplomatic relations. International human rights organizations, including the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, have closely monitored the proceedings, urging Japan to ensure justice for survivors. The lawsuit has intensified public calls in South Korea to nullify the 2015 agreement and has been seen as a crucial test of whether Japanese courts will break with precedent and recognize state liability for colonial-era crimes.