Japan settles suit over inadequate care of 23-year-old detainee who died of cancer

TOKYO -- The family of a 23-year-old man who passed away from testicular cancer while incarcerated at the Saitama Branch Detention House near Tokyo reached a settlement with the Japanese government on October 15, 2025, at the Tokyo High Court. The family sought approximately 70 million yen (around $443,000) in damages from the state.

Under the settlement, the government acknowledged the substandard medical care provided to the detainee and agreed to pay 3.5 million yen (about $22,000), an increase from the 1.5 million yen (approximately $9,500) awarded by a lower court. The settlement terms were announced at a press conference.

The man's condition had deteriorated since January 2020 when he reported feeling discomfort in his lower abdomen during his incarceration for robbery resulting in injury and other offenses. Initially, a doctor at the detention facility opted to monitor his condition. Subsequently, he was examined at an external medical facility where he was diagnosed with testicular cancer. Despite undergoing surgery to remove the affected testicle, he succumbed to the disease in July 2021.

The settlement stipulates that the officials should have appropriately evaluated whether to transfer him to an external hospital. The district court had determined that the man's right to appropriate medical care had been infringed upon, but it had only awarded 1.5 million yen in damages, arguing that even if cancer had been detected earlier, it could not be concluded that his death would have been prevented.

The settlement payment was elevated partly due to additional family members joining the lawsuit. The man's 51-year-old mother expressed hope that this case would lead to prisoners receiving appropriate medical care.