長崎ながさき佐世保させぼ基地きち海うみ自じ自衛官じえいかん自殺じさつ国くにが心理的しんりてき負荷ふか認みとめ和解わかい成立せいりつ

A court case in which the parents of a 20-year-old Self-Defense Force member, who committed suicide while serving on a Maritime Self-Defense Force destroyer stationed at a base in Sasebo City, Nagasaki Prefecture, sought compensation from the government on the grounds that power harassment by his superior officers was the cause, has been settled through mediation, with the government acknowledging that it placed a significant psychological burden on the SDF member.

Four years ago, Daiki Nishiyama then 20 years old, a Leading Seaman on the escort ship Akebono belonging to the Sasebo base of the Maritime Self-Defense Force, committed suicide on board. Two years ago, his parents filed a lawsuit against the government seeking over 77 million yen in compensation, claiming that long hours of overtime work and power harassment by his superior were the causes.

In the trial, the parents claimed that, regarding lifestyle habits such as smoking and drinking, their child was instructed to write a reflection notebook every day and was banned from landing for an indefinite period. On the other hand, the government argued that the purpose of the guidance through the reflection notebook was legitimate and that there was no fact of a landing ban. However, according to the parents lawyer, a settlement was reached on the 29th.

The settlement includes an acknowledgment that the captain of the escort ship placed significant psychological stress on Mr. Nishiyama, an expression of regret and condolences, a pledge to work on suicide prevention among personnel, and a payment of settlement money from the government to the parents.

Mr. Kenji Nishiyama, the father: I was able to clear my sons regrets. Regarding the settlement, Kenji Nishiyama, the father of the deceased Self-Defense Force member, said, I believe I was able to clear my sons regrets.

I looked back and said, The days up until today have felt incredibly long for me.

On top of that, he said, Although the trial has only ended and the fact remains that my son has passed away, I want to take today as a turning point and live a life that my son would not be ashamed of.