Japanese officials told to attend classes on harassment

Julian Ryall in Tokyo

SENIOR Japanese government officials are to be required to take courses on sexual harassment in the workplace after a series of scandals came to light involving the highest echelons of the bureaucracy.

The foreign ministry confirmed on Tuesday that it has taken disciplinary action against Tadaatsu Mori, the highflying head of its Russian division, for “undermining trust as a government official”.

A woman complained that 49-yearold Mr Mori had sexually harassed her, Kyodo News reported, resulting in his suspension for nine months from Monday.

Taro Kono, the foreign minister, told reporters: “It is regrettable that an incident like this happened at the ministry.” He declined to comment further.

In April, Junichi Fukuda was forced to step down as vice-finance minister after being accused by a female journalist of making sexually inappropriate remarks. Despite the reporter having a recording of their conversation, Mr Fukuda maintains that he did not ask if he could touch the woman’s breasts or suggest they have an affair.

Mr Fukuda attempted to ride the scandal out but the furore surrounding the incident worsened when Taro Aso, the finance minister, intervened to say that his colleague may have been the victim of entrapment and declared that sexual harassment was “not a crime”. Female politicians then staged a protest outside the ministry, brandishing #Metoo posters.

Government sources told Kyodo News that senior bureaucrats are to be obliged to attend courses designed to prevent sexual harassment.

The government is planning to introduce a consultation service for members of the public to file harassment complaints against bureaucrats.

Seiko Noda, the minister in charge of women’s empowerment, has proposed legislation that would make sexual harassment a crime.