Heisei 29 (Wa) 1844 Damages Claim Case (Comfort Women Lawsuit)

This case originated in 2017 when former comfort woman Lee Yong-soo and other victims filed a damages suit against the Japanese government at the Tokyo District Court, demanding official apologies and compensation for wartime sexual slavery. The plaintiffs argued that Japan violated international humanitarian and human rights law. In 2021, the Tokyo District Court dismissed the case citing state immunity. The plaintiffs appealed, and the Supreme Court of Japan issued its final judgment on June 20, 2025, upholding the dismissal. The court reaffirmed that under international law, a foreign sovereign state cannot be subjected to the jurisdiction of Japanese courts without its consent, barring exceptions for jus cogens violations.

The Supreme Court of Japan unanimously dismissed the appeal, affirming the lower court’s decision that Japan is immune from suit under the principle of state immunity. No damages were awarded.

Whether the Japanese government enjoys state immunity from civil claims brought by foreign nationals for historical atrocities, and whether the comfort women system entitles victims to individual compensation under international law.

The ruling intensified diplomatic tensions between South Korea and Japan, drew condemnation from international human rights organizations, and sparked protests across East Asia. It was widely viewed as a setback for survivors seeking judicial remedy, fueling the ongoing debate over historical accountability and the limits of state immunity in atrocity cases.