"Reported Sexual Assault, Then Tried to Settle with Money"… Japanese Self-Defense Force Member Exposes

Former Female Soldier, Continuous Harm After Enlistment
3 Sent to Prosecution but All Not Indicted
100,000 Signatures Submitted Demanding Reinvestigation

A former female member of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) has come forward to expose continuous sexual violence she endured.

On the 19th, local media including Mainichi Shimbun reported that former JGSDF member Konoina Rina (23, female) held a press conference to testify about the sexual violence she suffered from male colleagues.

Former female member of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, Rina Konoi, is holding a press conference in Tokyo on the 19th regarding sexual assault. Photo by Yonhap News

Konoina had dreamed of joining the Self-Defense Forces since childhood and enlisted in April 2020. Five months later, she was assigned to Fukushima Prefecture, where she worked until June last year and was sexually assaulted by male members of the same unit. One member repeatedly hugged and sexually harassed her over the course of a year.

Konoina stated, "While I reported the incidents to the company commander during my service, he ignored them without reporting to higher authorities," and added, "The perpetrators have not sincerely repented, attempting to settle the matter with money."

Immediately after the disclosure, the Self-Defense Forces referred three of the perpetrators to the prosecution, but all were not indicted. Unable to accept this, Konoina submitted a petition demanding reinvestigation with over 100,000 signatures.

As a result, a special inspection was conducted, and on the 15th of this month, the Ministry of Defense dismissed five individuals: four who directly participated in the sexual violence and one who ordered it. The company commander who ignored the victim’s report was suspended for six months.

In September, the Ministry of Defense acknowledged her victimization and issued an unprecedented apology. At that time, Yoshida Yoshihide, Chief of Staff of the Ground Self-Defense Force, expressed "deep apologies," but has been criticized for failing to present fundamental measures to eradicate sexual violence.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.