Chinese couple asks govt for compensation over son’s death

Written by Meenaa on Tuesday, November 18th, 2008

OSAKA–The parents of a Chinese student who died after being beaten with a wine bottle at an Osaka restaurant in March are seeking compensation from the central government that is only available to residents of Japan or Japanese nationals.

The parents of the student, Shi Xiaoning, 26, said the sorrow of losing a son is no different for Chinese or Japanese.

Shi’s father, Shi Gaosheng, 51, and his mother, Chen Gun, 50, live in Jiangsu Province in China, where they cultivate corn and wheat, earning about 80,000 yen annually. They borrowed money from relatives and friends to pay for Shi’s college tuition.

After graduating from a university in Beijing, Shi entered the graduate school of Wakayama University in 2005. In spring, he got an official job offer from an import sales firm in Osaka Prefecture and was hoping to set up his own firm someday in Japan.

However, he was attacked by a man at a restaurant in Osaka’s Minami entertainment district in March and died later at his home. The man was sentenced to six years in prison for injury resulting in death, but he has appealed his sentence to a higher court.

After her son’s death, the mother lost 14 kilograms due to grief. The father suffered a stroke in October. They still owe 1.8 million yen for Shi’s education.

Chen learned about the bereaved family benefit when she came to Japan to be questioned over her son’s death by the Osaka District Public Prosecutors Office in July.

Although their supporters have consulted the Osaka prefectural police over the possibility of the parents receiving the benefit, they were told it would be impossible.

The benefit, which varies from about 3.2 million yen to 29.64 million yen, is calculated based on the income of the victim and the financial situation of the bereaved family.
(Nov. 18, 2008)