Recognition of my family 

My beloved partner Akihisa Yukawa was tragically killed on his one day business trip when I was nine months pregnant with our second child.  He was amongst the 520 passengers who lost their lives in the ill fated Japan Airlines 123 Boeing 747 crash on 12 August 1985. 

After the disaster Akihisa's employer - Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC) - treated me without dignity because I was unmarried and a young British mother. They refused to recognise my or my children's existence even though we were completely dependent on Akihisa and alone in Japan, devastated and without support.

Susanne, Akihisa and our daughter Cassie

I am now fighting for justice against SMBC. For over 25 years I have passionately fought hard to obtain the identity and legal recognition of my family that the disaster denied me. 

The Japan Airlines 123 Boeing 747 crash is still today the world's worst single air crash in aviation history caused by catastrophic mechanical failure due to a faulty repair. Until Akihisa's sudden death, our life was blissfully happy and we had so much to look forward to until the disaster tore my world apart.

The Japan Airlines 123 Boeing 747 crash on 12 August 1985 that took Akihisa's life

Akihisa worked as a senior banking executive for SMBC, one of the most powerful financial organisations in Japan. Before his death he had successfully negotiated aircraft leasing to Japan Airlines for the purchase of 747 aircraft from Boeing.

Me and my children were completely dependent on Akihisa and alone in Japan, devastated and without support. I was nine months pregnant at the time of his death. In a great state of shock I gave birth and I was persuaded not to consult a lawyer. 

In a vulnerable state I was eventually led to sign an agreement which I now understand was unlawful, and which has greatly damaged my life in every sense. Unable to fight back, I returned to the UK with my fatherless children.

My fight for justice

For over 25 years I have passionately fought hard to obtain the identity and legal recognition of my family that the disaster denied me. 

Now at last I have succeeded in having Akihisa's official "koseki" family tree record amended in Japan to include my family. The Japanese government have now made the unprecedented decision to make a posthumous amendment to Akihisa's important family record, including me and my children as his family. It is also the first time in the history of Japan that British legal evidence was used to amend such an official legal record. 

But the fight is not over. SMBC are unjustly still refusing to acknowledge this evidence. The only way to redress this injustice is to take legal action. 

Susanne and her two children on the day they returned to the UK after Akihisa's tragic death

A violation of human rights by a major corporation

My case highlights how a major corporation who is signatory to the UN Global Compact can still violate human rights.

I am passionately fighting to win my case and to bring this wrong out into the open. Many powerful businesses worldwide are in breach of human rights and yet they claim to respect and uphold universal rights. 

What's next?

I have instructed a respected human rights law firm, McCue and Partners, who have a good track record of success in difficult cases and are well equipped to deal with businesses who are violating human rights. 

The purpose of the action is to obtain the family recognition that I am entitled to and seek compensation for the hardship and  discrimination I have endured. I hope bringing this issue to light will also help stop the same bad treatment from happening to others.

How much am I raising and what is it for?

I am raising an initial target of £10,000 in order to cover the costs of the first steps of legal action. My lawyers will carry out a detailed legal analysis and directly engage with Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation. Action will be taken to apply to de-list SMBC from the UN Global Compact and file a complaint with the OECD Contact Point.

About the claimant

My name is Susanne. My beloved partner Akihisa Yukawa was tragically killed on his one day business trip when I was nine months pregnant. He was amongst the 520 passengers who lost their lives in the ill fated Japan Airlines 123 Boeing 747 crash on 12 August 1985. I have fought hard to obtain the identity and legal recognition of my family for the past 25 years, and I have at last succeeded in having Akihisa's offical 'koseki' family tree record amended in Japan to include my family. But a major corporation still unjustly refuses to recognise this legal evidence. After years of fighting to prove the truth, I now have a team of respected human rights lawyers behind me to help me obtain the recognition I am entitled to and to seek the compensation for the wrongful discrimination I have endured.

Fast facts

**What's at stake?** Ensuring that a major corporation cannot violate human rights and is held accountable for discrimination. **What are the next steps?** My lawyers will carry out a detailed legal analysis and directly engage with Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation. Action will be taken to apply to de-list SMBC from the UN Global Compact and file a complaint with the OECD Contact Point. **My legal team** My solicitors are McCue & Partners