Japan Top Court: Government Not Responsible for Fukushima Disaster

Japan Top Court: Government Not Responsible for Fukushima Disaster
Izutaro Managi, a lawyer for the plaintiffs, speaks to plaintiffs and their supporters after hearing the decision of the Tokyo Supreme Court in Tokyo on June 17, 2022. Eugene Hoshiko/AP Photo
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TOKYO—Japan’s Supreme Court ruled Friday that the government is not liable for the 2011 Fukushima nuclear crisis, dismissing thousands of evacuees’ demands that the state, not just the utility, pay compensation for damage to their lives.

The ruling was the first by the top court on government responsibility for the Fukushima disaster in four compensation lawsuits filed by about 3,700 Fukushima residents.