Breaking The Silence In Japan

Breaking the Silence in Japan: Conversations with My Father is a powerful memoir revealing the hidden realities of U.S. military crimes in Japan and the long struggle for justice that followed.

In 2002, Catherine Jane Fisher became the first woman in Japan to break the silence about rape committed by U.S. military servicemen. Speaking out came at a heavy personal cost, including denial of justice from authorities, the constraints of the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA), and the painful stigma that silences so many victims. Catherine refused to remain silent and stood up to change a system that denied justice and silenced victims.

At the heart of this memoir are Catherine's conversations with her father, words of love, guidance, and strength that shaped her resilience. His voice accompanies her as she recounts her journey from victim to advocate and as she continues to fight for all victims, past and present, whose voices have long been silenced. She shares her 2013 victory in the one dollar trial, a history-making landmark case in the fight for justice and the rights of victims. Her work includes advocating for Japan's first 24-hour rape crisis centers, speaking at the United Nations and other international forums, and engaging with the Japanese government to amend the SOFA and ensure accountability and justice.

For 23 years, Catherine has turned her personal struggle into a public movement for justice. This book serves as a roadmap for future generations, documenting the betrayal she faced, the struggles, the achievements, and the progress made for the rights of victims since 2002. Over the years, Catherine has been nominated twice for the Nobel Peace Prize and received many other accolades. But the most important outcome has been seeing the victims grow resilient and reclaim their lives.

Through this memoir, readers can glimpse the raw and profound trauma she endured and understand why she and her father devoted their lives to ending violence and advocating for legal reform in Japan and beyond. They will discover the extraordinary journey she has taken to fight for justice for all victims.

Anyone facing their own battles can find their light in the darkness, reclaim their strength, and live their life as an Empowerterian, a term Catherine coined to describe someone who empowers their own life and the lives of others.

Read this book and witness a journey of courage, resilience, and groundbreaking advocacy that will inspire you to rise like a phoenix in your own life.