*Translated by Google Translate

Introduction

He is suing the government over "shaving."

If you only heard that, it might seem like an insignificant thing.
However, if ignoring a doctor's diagnosis and harming one's body is justified...
In such a society, no one's voice will be protected.

As an inmate, one's voice is often silenced.
That's why I appealed by hand, even if it was clumsy.
I decided to leave evidence that "the voice will not disappear."

This little trial will eventually lead to someone being unjustly silenced.
I hope this will serve as a reminder that "we can keep writing, speaking out, and asking questions."

Until I start the trial

While in prison, I developed acute myeloid leukemia and was hospitalized at outside hospitals multiple times. It was a life-threatening illness that required constant medical attention. However, when I returned to prison, my doctors' findings were ignored and I faced many absurdities in my daily life.

One of the most problematic issues was the way they handled my metal allergy. I have a metal allergy, and I repeatedly complained that shaving causes skin irritation. The prison doctor prescribed me an ointment and told me that it would be better to shave in a way that avoids direct contact with metal. I therefore requested to use a trimmer that can be fitted with a plastic attachment, but the prison did not allow this.

▲The razor actually used in prison

Forced shaving
Prison staff held me down and shaved me with a razor that had no attachments.

｜

Punishment (confinement punishment)
I was given a 10-day confinement penalty for refusing to shave.
Confinement is the most severe punishment imposed within a penal institution.
They are confined to small rooms and have no contact with the outside world.

｜

Review denial
I believe this punishment was wrong and have requested a review.
The Tokyo Correctional District Director rejected my application.
This "review" is a system in which complaints can be filed with the correctional district, the government office in charge of prisons, if there are problems with the treatment of inmates at the prison.

｜

Filing a lawsuit
I argued that these measures were illegal and filed a lawsuit against the government seeking damages.
Other issues include improper treatment at the hospital, restrictions on access to books, delayed mail, incorrect classification of staple foods,
Inadequate cold weather protection measures led to severe frostbite, and children were placed in rooms with cameras.
He complained of numerous unlawful treatments.

▲Handwritten complaint

What is being contested in court

There are three main issues at stake in this lawsuit.

Forced shaving

The first question is whether it was right to ignore my metal allergy and shave my beard. My doctor had told me to avoid contact with metal. Nevertheless, I believe that holding down my arms and forcibly shaving my beard was an excessive violation of my human rights.

punishment

The second issue is the punishment I received for refusing to shave. I refused because of an allergy, but my refusal was deemed "insubordination" and I was confined to my premises for 10 days. Is this really a fair punishment?

Review denial

The third issue is that even though I filed a complaint, it was dismissed because "the punishment is over and it's meaningless." Does that mean there was no problem if it's over? I believe that as long as the record of the punishment remains, it will affect my reputation and legal status.

All of this leads to the fundamental question of how we should think about the human rights of prisoners. The question is whether it is acceptable to say, "It can't be helped, because they're prisoners."

▲Cases of metal allergies

Tokyo District Court ruling

The Tokyo District Court accepted part of my claim and ordered the government to pay compensation.

▲The first instance ruling ordered the government to pay damages

The illegality of forced shaving

Despite my complaints of metal allergy symptoms and the doctor's opinion to back this up, the prison staff's forcible shaving of my beard was deemed to have "exceeded necessary and reasonable limits and was therefore unacceptable." I was awarded 30,000 yen in compensation.

Illegality of disciplinary action

The court acknowledged that I had a "legitimate reason" for refusing to shave, but determined that the decision to confine myself to my home and impose a penalty on me based on my "unjustifiable rebellion" was "grossly unreasonable." I was awarded 150,000 yen in compensation.

Other complaints

Unfortunately, other claims, such as the illegality of the ruling denying the request for review of the disciplinary action, and other inappropriate treatment (such as lack of medical attention, restrictions on reading, and being placed in a room with cameras), were not upheld.

The total amount of compensation awarded in this judgment is 180,000 yen. Considering the mental and financial pain I have suffered, as well as the effort and expense involved in this lawsuit, this amount is by no means sufficient.

▲Article reporting the first-instance ruling (Yomiuri Shimbun Online, May 15, 2025)
https://www.yomiuri.co.jp/national/20250515-OYT1T50165/

The meaning of this trial

"To deny people their human rights is to challenge their very humanity." said Nelson Mandela. We prisoners are people too. Even if we have committed a crime, our human dignity must be protected. It is wrong to think, "It can't be helped, because we're prisoners."

Many inmates eventually return to society, and ensuring proper education and medical care in prisons increases the chances of a second chance, which is beneficial for society as a whole.

The inside of a prison cannot be seen from the outside. We need to put in place a system to protect human rights and prevent the abuse of power. Martin Luther King Jr. said, "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." If one part of society continues to be treated unjustly, justice as a whole will also be undermined. I believe that by raising our voices as prisoners, we can create a better society.

▲ A letter requesting that society be made aware of another lawsuit (prisoners' voting rights lawsuit)

Use of funds

Your donations will be used to cover the costs of continuing this lawsuit, such as copying and mailing court records, travel expenses to attend meetings with lawyers and oral arguments, and expenses for obtaining medical materials.

▲Mail addressed to Yagihashi in prison

Message from the lawyer

Kyoko Yoshida (Tokyo Bar Association No. 2, Takano Takashi Law Office)

Request for donations

The trial court's ruling marks a major step forward for me, but it's not the end. The amount of compensation awarded is not worth the mental and physical pain I've endured or the effort I've put into this lawsuit. I also intend to continue fighting the other unlawful treatment that was not recognized in the ruling.

This lawsuit is not just for me, but for the realization of a society in which the human rights of all detainees are respected and in which the power of the state is exercised appropriately.

I will continue to need legal expenses. Your support will help me change the situation in Japan's penal institutions. Please help me by making a donation.