The Osaka High Court ruled on January 20, 2025, that the family of Ayuka Ide, an 11-year-old girl with hearing disabilities who was killed by heavy machinery in 2018, is entitled to the same compensation as families of nondisabled victims. The court overturned a previous ruling that reduced the compensation due to her disability, awarding the family approximately ¥43 million (around $227,000).
The accident occurred when Ayuka was struck by heavy machinery while walking in her neighborhood. Initially, a lower court reduced her family’s compensation, citing diminished future earning potential due to her hearing disability. However, the High Court rejected this reasoning.
Judge Yumiko Tokuoka declared there was no justification for lowering the compensation based on her disability, asserting that “the amount should reflect the average for all workers.”
This marks a significant legal precedent in Japan, as it is the first case where a court calculated future income potential for a child with a disability on equal terms with non-disabled individuals. Ayuka’s father, Tsutomu Ide, praised the decision, emphasizing the need for equal treatment of all individuals, regardless of disability.
