Richardson Law Alum Featured by BBC and Washington Post for Landmark Human Rights Case

HONOLULU, Hawaiʻi (Feb. 6, 2026) — Dr. Atsushi Shiraki (S.J.D. ’24), a graduate of the William S. Richardson School of Law, was featured in BBC and The Washington Post for his role in a historic human rights case before the Tokyo District Court.

Dr. Shiraki represented defectors from North Korea in a long-running lawsuit challenging the country’s “Paradise on Earth” repatriation program. In a landmark ruling, the court ordered North Korea to pay 88 million yen in damages to the plaintiffs, marking the first time a Japanese court has held the country financially accountable for human rights violations.

“This was the first time a Japanese court exercised its sovereignty against North Korea to recognize its malpractice,” Dr. Shiraki said in remarks reported by the BBC.

Reflecting on the decision, Dr. Shiraki emphasized the broader significance of the ruling, noting that it sends a clear message that sovereign immunity does not shield systematic human rights abuses. He also highlighted the courage of the plaintiffs, many of whom waited decades for their experiences to be acknowledged in court.

Dr. Shiraki shared that the case has involved extensive collaboration with law students through an unofficial international human rights law clinic, underscoring the role of legal education in advancing accountability and justice across borders.

Read more: Coverage of Dr. Shiraki’s work appeared in the BBC and The Washington Post.

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