Japanese emigrants to the Dominican Republic decided to accept a government proposal to settle a court battle in which they sought compensation for hardships they endured after Tokyo duped them with false promises in a state-initiated emigration scheme in the late 1950s.
The plaintiffs reached the decision Thursday during a meeting in Santo Domingo to discuss Japan's proposal.
The decision is expected to lead the plaintiffs to drop their claims in return for Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi expressing apology to them and the government providing up to 2 million yen each to all 1,300 Japanese emigrants to the Caribbean island country, including the 170 plaintiffs, sources close to the plaintiffs said.