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Defense ministry opens probe after SDF sex harassment complaints

20 Comments
By MARI YAMAGUCHI

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Hamada said the number of complaints of sexual, power and other forms of harassment has risen from 256 in 2016 to 2,311 last year

2,311???

According to the Defense Ministry's annual white paper of 2022, the number of female SDF members stood at about 19,000 (mainichi.jp)

Dodgy math but does that mean if there were 100 women in a company there would 10 cases of sexual assault? I doubt there would be 10 cases of influenza among them.

-15 ( +0 / -15 )

This is a problem issue among nearly all militaries in the world. It can only be corrected by trickle down from the top all the way. The concept that harassing (in any form) someone on whom your own life may one day rely upon is stupid, needs to be pounded into these grunts.

13 ( +14 / -1 )

The number one reason for women to leave the military in the U.S. is sexual harassment, so I am not so surprised Japan has a big problem.

13 ( +16 / -3 )

Hamada said the number of reported harassment cases has increased sharply in recent years despite efforts by the ministry to prevent them

I’m sure they did the absolute least they could have in helping the situation.

Japan’s defense minister said Tuesday he has ordered a ministry-wide special investigation into growing reports of sexual assault after allegations of harassment were brought by a former soldier.

not surprising, considering how horrible Japan is at reprimanding sexual harassment and assault.

if they were “really serious” about it, you’d see people getting fired, jailed or put on a National sexual predators list. But, of course none of that happens in Japan.

2 ( +12 / -10 )

The ministry didn't open an investigation until she went public.

15 ( +17 / -2 )

There are many faults to how things have been handled but it is a good sign that they are taking action.

I expect part of the reason for the increase in reports is because people feel more empowered to report than they did in the past.

Like anything here though it seems to move at snails pace and hindered by special interests and “loss of face”. Something as serious as this should be prioritized, move much faster, and have proper independent oversight.

4 ( +7 / -3 )

Dbsaiya

Good point.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

I heard about this case on Nobita from Japan. I'm sure stuff like this happens in dorms but it really ticked me off when I heard she was used as a puppet to entertain her superiors and higher ups during settai. This sort of crap still exists not only in the JSDF but in company nomikais as well. Someone tell these oyajis the bubble popped 30 years ago.

7 ( +9 / -2 )

my bad I meant Showa ended a long time ago

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Hamada said the number of complaints of sexual, power and other forms of harassment has risen from 256 in 2016 to 2,311 last year.

Being extremely optimistic this may indicate that reporting has improved and that the situation may not be much worse now than before, just that more people feel confident enough in the system to raise their voices to complain.

Being less optimistic this may mean the efforts made to decrease the problem are worthless and it has lead to people realizing they can abuse others without punishment.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

harassment is part of Japanese culture, nothing will change. Japanese judge does not acknowledge harassment until death is involved.

-6 ( +3 / -9 )

Let me guess the judge will ask “what we’re you wearing” or “well if you didn’t like it you should have fought back harder right? Your a military member after all”

they will 100% victim blame as a matter of fact in some fashion. If they do find wrong doing the chances of someone getting fired is still almost 0.

fight the fight though, even a small step can make a difference for those in the future

7 ( +7 / -0 )

harassment is part of Japanese culture, nothing will change. Japanese judge does not acknowledge harassment until death is involved.

I 100% agree with this.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

People who commit Sex - Harassment acts are either mentally ill or desperate, it is treatable and people can be trained and rehabilitated.

The defense ministry is not alone, it is happening at all levels of society and unless major policies and rules are changed to allow both women and men alike to come forward and report it without being harassed!!!!! things will just go on as usual.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

MarkToday  03:44 pm JST

you are wrong, the Japanese justice does not punish harassment simply and will ignore all laws and rules in their ruling. in the labor inspection bureau, many women report and claim sexual harassment but no investigation happens!

this is why the Japanese people make suicide, no hope exists until Japanese justice changes.

by the way, after that the worker goes to court to complain, the worker will never find a job in japan anymore...

-11 ( +3 / -14 )

@indigo,

Awesome comments.

A sad indictment on today's society in Japan.

-9 ( +3 / -12 )

Japan is a feudal country with a constitution made by the american mark Arthur... the law has no meaning here, Japan uses the law system against its will only because japan lost WW2 .

Unfortunately, most of Japanese accept the feudal system and does not make any strike. Japanese who complain just leave the country when they can, go to Akihabara or suicide....

-13 ( +0 / -13 )

So, what's with the hand-held little paper? Typical Japanese theatre.

-5 ( +1 / -6 )

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