2 more sue state over forced sterilization under eugenics law

The government could save a lot of money, time and face by just ponying up and moving on. There's no need to admit personal fault. Just say it was wrong, apologize on behalf of the country and move on.

Just make sure you get a signed receipt and statement that there will be no further demands.

But as it does not make mention of the law's constitutionality or the state's responsibility, victims remain outspoken in their criticism.

And this just continues a trend. The simple fact is that the Japanese government, regardless of the error, regardless of the monstrosity large or small, is unable to just pony up and say "Yes, the government did the wrong thing. We are responsible for a grievous wrong unto the victims, and we apologize."

They'll admit pain. They'll admit suffering. They'll throw money at the victims, hoping they'll go away.

But they won't admit being wrong, no quibbling, no moral waffling.

Which is why I hope the victims continue to sue, to drag this on, and throw even more egg in the faces of the government.

It's disgraceful beyond words and far worse than this anodyne Kyodo article makes it out to be:

https://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/eugenic-sterilisation-japan-live-181029054810928.html

State sponsored Mengele program that was in place till 1996

I think that's sensationalizing things. The USA had eugenics laws before Germany, and Winston Churchill was a strong advocate. Also, the 1948 Japanese law was somewhat different from the previous law.

If we drop the word "eugenics" and use "compulsory sterilization" instead, I think it's legitimate to ask whether there are circumstances that justify it. Where the mother, due to mental disability, is incapable of bringing up children, or where the mother or father has a genetic condition that is likely to cause suffering to a child. These seem to me as situations where it might be considered appropriate. The most recent case of compulsory sterilization in the UK was in 2015 where a woman with an IQ of 70 and with six children already was sterilized. I don't envy the judge who had to make that decision.

Having said all that, I don't doubt that the law in Japan was abused over the years. Strong safeguards are needed.