The court case began on the 7700th, in which the parents are seeking compensation of more than 7 million yen from the government, claiming that the suicide of the captain of the Maritime Self-Defense Force Sasebo Base in Sasebo City, Nagasaki Prefecture, was caused by power harassment in addition to long working hours.

Captain Daiya Nishiyama, then 20, who was working on an escort ship whose home port was the Maritime Self-Defense Force's Sasebo Air Base, committed suicide aboard the escort ship in February.

According to the complaint, three years ago, Nishiyama had drunk alcohol with several colleagues, was banned from landing indefinitely, and was instructed to write a reflection note every day.

Also, the day before he committed suicide, he was severely reprimanded by his superiors for being prohibited for shopping at a fast-food restaurant on a U.S. military base.

In June last year, Mr. Nishiyama's suicide was recognized as a public accident caused by long working hours, but his parents are seeking more than 2 million yen in damages from the government, claiming that his suicide was caused by power harassment in addition to long working hours, and that his superior officer neglected his duty to consider his physical and mental condition.

At the trial that began at the Sasebo Branch of the Nagasaki District Court on May 3, the plaintiffs argued that although there was an act of drinking under the age of 1, the daily reflection notebook that targeted only Mr. Nishiyama was an abnormal instruction.

On the other hand, the government asked for both claims to be dismissed and said that it would clarify the claims in the future.

How he died

Mr. Nishiyama is the third son of four brothers and joined the Maritime Self-Defense Force in April 4, the month after graduating from high school, following his two older brothers who were Maritime Self-Defense Force officers.

When Nishiyama first joined the army, he was eager to become a Self-Defense Forces officer who would surpass his older brothers.

However, he was unable to get along with his superiors, and after a few months he wanted to retire.

Around September 3, a little more than a year after joining the military, Mr. Nishiyama, who was a minor at the time, drank alcohol with his colleagues and received instruction.

After that, they were instructed to write a "reflection note" and were sentenced indefinitely to "stop landing" to prohibit disembarkation.

Of these, the "reflection notebook" was a daily review of daily work, and the superior officer commented on it.

In red was the comment of the superior officer, and words such as "I already have no trust" were lined up.

Then, in February, he was severely reprimanded by his superiors for shopping at a fast-food restaurant on a U.S. military base, saying that he was prohibited.

The next day, he was found suicidal inside the escort ship where he was on duty.

A few days before she died, she wrote a message to her mother, Misae, expressing her dissatisfaction with the guidance of her superiors, such as "It's the limit" and "If you do something unreasonable, you won't be motivated to do it either."

His parents subsequently filed for a public accident for Mr. Nishiyama's suicide, and it was certified in June last year.

On the other hand, as for the cause of suicide, it was said that they worked long hours, and there was no mention of the guidance of their superiors.

For this reason, the parents decided to file a lawsuit to reveal the truth.

Father: "I want to fight with the thought that my father will clear my heart."

At a press conference after the trial, his father, Kenji Nishiyama, said, "The reason for filing the lawsuit was that I wanted to know why my son, who was unwilling about anything, had to take his life.

His mother, Misae, said, "I came here today after putting my hands together in front of the altar at home and telling my son, 'I'll do my best,' and I want my son to be by my side during the trial."

Ministry of Defense Maritime Staff Inspectorate: "I can't answer questions about the trial"

Regarding the trial, the Maritime Staff Inspectorate of the Ministry of Defense told NHK, "We cannot answer questions about the trial because it may affect future trials."