Forced Sterilization Victim Kikuo Kojima Told “it would be terrible if people like you had children”

Kikuo Kojima, 83, of Sapporo was put up for adoption soon after his birth. He contracted polio, leaving him with a disabled right leg for which he was bullied. At age 19, when he was leading a desolate life, he was forced to undergo sterilization. Kojima was handcuffed by a police officer in front of his home and put into a psychiatric hospital in Sapporo. It was one-sidedly determined that he was mentally ill, and when he was sterilized, a nurse told him that this had to be done “since it would be terrible if people like you had children.” Episode Notes: ‘Forced Sterilization Plaintiff Kikuo Kojima says he was told “it would be terrible if people like you had children” ’: https://barrierfreejapan.com/2024/07/20/forced-sterilization-plaintiff-kikuo-kojima-says-he-was-told-it-would-be-terrible-if-people-like-you-had-children/