Former Ground Self-Defense Force man sues country, falls into depression due to power harassment by superior officer Hiroshima District Court

A 24-year-old former Ground Self-Defense Force officer filed a lawsuit against the government in Hiroshima District Court, seeking approximately 8.8 million yen in damages, alleging that he became depressed due to power harassment from his superiors. The man's mother held a press conference on the 17th and appealed, ``I strongly hope that the truth will be thoroughly uncovered in court and that concrete measures will be taken to eradicate harassment.''

The lawsuit was filed on the 11th. According to the complaint, the man worked as an army officer at the GSDF Kaita City Garrison (Kaita Town, Hiroshima Prefecture) from October 2021 to March 2025. In September 2014, he broke his right leg and was unable to wear the combat boots the Self-Defense Forces call ``half-boots,'' but until around November, he was repeatedly ordered to wear the boots in an intimidating tone and with abusive language. His right leg is said to be deformed. Other incidents include interfering with job hunting, forcing employees to work while on paid leave, and inappropriately dealing with heatstroke.

Although it was acknowledged that the man asked the Self-Defense Forces to investigate and instructed him to wear short boots, the incident was ruled not to be harassment, as he did not actually wear them and there was no coercive behavior. Afterwards, superiors who accused the man of being the perpetrator were said to have been effectively demoted to a department with no subordinates.

After retiring, the man started working as a full-time employee at a private company in April 2015, but was unable to work due to depression and took a leave of absence. He has been working as a contract employee at another company since July this year, but his health has not recovered.

At the press conference, his mother read the man's letter on his behalf. The man complained, ``At the military base, I lived under abusive language that denied my character, and unreasonable and persistent scolding.Just reading the contents of the complaint brings back the pain and makes me sick.I want people to know the reality of the harsh harassment within the Self-Defense Forces.''

A spokesperson for the Kaita City Garrison said in an interview, ``We are currently confirming the details, so we cannot provide any answers at this time.''