Forced Sterilization in Japan: A Personal Story of Pain and Resistance
Picture a teenager dragged to a hospital, a stern doctor, and a life‑changing operation—no consultation, no consent, just a scar that never fades. That’s Junko Iizuka’s reality, one that echoes through a dark chapter of Japan’s history.
From a Rice Ball to a Hospital Bed
On a quiet riverbank, her foster mother slipped her a simple rice ball while the tears rolled down Junko’s cheeks. The next moment? A sudden trip to a doctor’s office—no explanation, no warning. Jump into the overnight mood: a hospital bed, a gigantic vertical scar through her stomach, and a life that would never be the same.
The 1949 “Eugenics” Law
- Forced sterilizations: 16,500 people—to stop “poor quality descendants.”
- Consent‑based sterilizations: 8,500 people—mostly pressured into agreeing.
- Law’s end: 1996, after 47‑year reign.
Junko never had a formal disability diagnosis, yet her foster mother sent her to a special school at 14. Later, her father admitted that local officials “repeatedly pushed” for the surgery—a haunting memory that has stayed with her through each decade.
Haunted by the Past, Moving Forward
In her twenties, the world seemed to congeal around her sterile reality: marriage offers fallen through. She did eventually marry and adopted a son, yet she still envies friends who see their grandchildren’s bright smiles.
Junko’s relentless lobbying: for twenty years, she campaigned for Japan’s government to acknowledge her suffering. Each reply was the same—“the procedure was legal,” no apology, no compensation. Fast forward to today—she is battling breast cancer and begs lawmakers to hasten justice.
Joining Forces: Michiko Sato and Yumi
Michiko Sato, representing her sister‑in‑law Yumi, shares a similar path. Yumi was only 15 when she was forced into the same cruel operation, a bold twist even though her disability stemmed from an accidental anesthetic error at birth.
Why Fight?
- Disability stigma still thrives.
- Recent tragic events— a 19‑person shooting at a nearby center.
- The perpetrator targeted those with mental illness, showing how far‑fetched the “cleaning” narrative persists.
Michiko’s lawsuit is a first of its kind: she demands both an apology and compensation from the government, sparking similar cries from others—like a man in his seventies who realized, after years of silence, that he was on the same forced sterilization trip before the age of 19.
The Hope of Legislative Change
In March, lawmakers vowed to study compensation. A bill targeting this issue might appear next year. But victims feel the pace is painfully slow: everyone is aging, and the stakes are personal lives.
Junko’s plea to the legislature: “Everyone is aging. Please move quickly before we all hit the grave.” Her story, wrapped in pain and hope, stands as a stark reminder that human rights violations require even stronger bonds of justice.
