Japan's military needs change, sexually assaulted ex-soldier says

Rina Gonoi, a former member of Japan Self-Defense Forces, who has accused colleagues of sexually assaulting her during her time in the military, speaks to the media at the Fukushima District Court in Fukushima, Japan December 12, 2023, in this photo taken by Kyodo. Mandatory credit Kyodo/via REUTERS

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's military will need sweeping changes to root out harassment, ex-soldier Rina Gonoi said on Wednesday, a day after a Japanese court found three of her former colleagues guilty of sexually assaulting her.

"I don't want to tear down the Self-Defence Forces, but it's exactly because I am so grateful to them that I want to see fundamental change," Gonoi, 24, said at a news conference in Tokyo.