The family of Wishma Sandamali, a Sri Lankan woman who died in a Japanese immigration detention centre in 2021, is set to sue for the release of all 295 hours of security footage capturing her final days. 

The move, announced on yesterday (2), intensifies a years-long battle with Japanese authorities, who have withheld the full recording citing security concerns.

Wishma, detained in Nagoya for overstaying her visa, died at 33 after months of pleading for medical attention, her health visibly deteriorating. 

Partial footage – five hours submitted to the Nagoya District Court – shows her bedridden, begging for help, yet receiving minimal response. 

Her family insists the complete 295-hour record is essential to uncover the truth behind her death, which sparked nationwide outrage in Japan over immigration policies.

This legal action runs parallel to a separate damages suit against the Japanese government, alleging negligence and unlawful detention. Wishma’s case – the 17th death in such facilities since 2007 – has fuelled criticism of Japan’s strict immigration system, with fewer than 1% of asylum applications approved annually.

As of today, 3 April, the family’s resolve signals a broader reckoning for Japan’s treatment of detainees, with the courts now a battleground for accountability.