A lawsuit was filed Tuesday by 126 Japanese who emigrated to the Dominican Republic under a government program more than 40 years ago, demanding state compensation for the hardships they suffered in the Caribbean country caused by false information provided prior to their emigration.
The plaintiffs, consisting of first-generation emigrants and their families, filed the suit with the Tokyo District Court, seeking roughly 2.5 billion yen in compensation.
"We believed over the years that the Japanese government would keep its promise, but it didn't and there has been nothing to improve the situation," said Kurato Kimura, 73, leader of the plaintiffs. "We had no choice but take a legal action."