After World War II, Japanese society transitioned into a democracy, yet discrimination against people with disabilities and the endorsement of eugenics persisted. The recent Supreme Court ruling declared a defunct eugenics law unconstitutional, sparking questions about how such practices were justified.
The 1948 law allowed for forced sterilization surgeries on thousands of people with disabilities over nearly 50 years. In a landmark decision, the 15-justice bench unanimously held the government accountable for compensating the victims, rejecting a 20-year statute of limitations on damages claims.