Six women filed a 198 million yen damages suit Friday against the central government, claiming it failed to support women who were repatriated from China after being displaced there amid confusion at the end of World War II.
The women, who are aged from 77 to 85 and reside in Tokyo, Saitama and Kanagawa prefectures, filed the suit with the Saitama District Court.
A similar lawsuit was lodged with the same court in April 2005 by a group of 13 women who have sought 430 million yen in damages from the government. One of the 13 later withdrew from the suit.
Last February, the Tokyo District Court, acting on a similar suit, turned down demands for 60 million yen in damages from three women who accused the government of failing to take swift action to repatriate them from China.