Students interviewing for graduate jobs in Japan continue to be sexually harassed by recruiters, highlighting a failure of attempts to eradicate the problem and the power imbalance that endures despite companies' desperation to fill roles amid the country's labor shortage.
Although many companies have implemented measures to stop harassment, the Japan Harassment Association said it has continued to receive various complaints, with a majority coming from female university students.
In a 2024 study conducted by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, one in three students who have engaged in job hunting or an internship said they experienced sexual harassment.
The government is planning to submit a bill to amend the equal employment opportunity law during the ongoing ordinary Diet session to require companies to take measures to prevent harassment of students and establish a way for victims to lodge complaints.
"Meetings between students and alumni employees have increased as companies seek opportunities to meet students amid intense competition for talent," an official from a university in Tokyo said. "Students can be targeted due to their vulnerable position."
Multiple cases of sexual harassment during job hunting came to light in 2019, leading to some companies banning nighttime meetings and prohibiting employees from exchanging personal contact details with students.
In January, a male employee of technology firm NEC Corp was arrested for allegedly raping a female university student and later fired. Although he was not prosecuted, the company has since set up a consultation desk and requires meetings between staff and students to be reported beforehand to superiors and human resources.
Some universities have also set up guidelines to prevent harassment cases. Rikkyo University has outlined specific situations to be wary of, while Takushoku University advises meeting alumni from respective companies only at their company's offices or on campus.
Kaname Murasaki, the head of the Japan Harassment Association, advises students not to reply immediately to "suspicious invitations or questions," while calling on companies to not look unfavorably on job seekers who report harassment.
© KYODO
14 Comments
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Spidey
How the he.. do you expect anything to change if this is what happens when someone is raped!
Sorry but when you have a country run by oyajis who still think that women are not equal to men, nothing will ever change. Change needs to start at the top... but we all know that that will not happen anytime soon. Especially with the current state of the world.
Japan is great in many things but equality, especially for women, is not one of them.
S
KazukoHarmony
One in three!? That’s a lot of sexual harassment!
I wonder what specific incidents of perceived sexual harassment accounted for the bulk of these claims.
tamanegi
Masahiro Nakai is barely out of the news and yet here we go again. Lessons never learned. Laws never followed. Japanese women disrespected and misfit Japanese men praying on young females in vulnerable situations. These companies need to be named and shamed at the very least with individuals doing this sexual harassment revealed to the public.
Bobby Franks
I felt I needed to wear a skirt to the interview.
I was never told a skirt was required, but I felt I needed to wear one because of the social prejudices I sense.
Harry_Gatto
The fact that such an organisation is necessary, or even that it exists at all, is shameful.
Tokyo Guy
A spokesman commented: "Look, we don't think that asking prospective female employees "are you willing to go to bed with the boss to get ahead in your career?" is such an unreasonable thing to ask. I mean, I did, and I'm a guy"
Tamarama
Very tough for the men of Japan to properly start to see women as equals, let alone treat them like one. And obviously the laws and punishments still reflect that overarching patriarchal mindset.
Shiori Ito certainly knows that, too.
They seem quite fond of sexually harassing the ladies. Hard for them to give it up, by the looks.
Yubaru
This is a story in and of itself, but it gets passed by here like it's no big deal.
One, just who made the allegations? If it isnt true, then why was he fired? Could be a case of a false accusation leading to a business firing a guy illegally.
Two, if it's true, where are the cops here? Why werent charges filed? Did NEC pay her off?
Dropping allegations and not following up on them is the same as yellow journalism!
purple_depressed_bacon
Wasn't there just an article about how Japan is one of the worst places in the world for working women? Well here's yet another reason why. Are Japanese men so threatened by women that they feel the need to oppress, harass, and rob them of opportunities just to feel "manly" and stay top dog?
DanteKH
When various media, including JT, have articles that promotes hostess clubs, or any other adult theme occupations that blatantly objectified women, does anyone wonder about this anymore?
Because of such mentality, young women in Japan tend to only go for the high paying jobs, which you guessed, they are ALL in the adult industry only, such as host clubs, kyabakuras, snack bars, or any other simmilar.
Alongfortheride
These numbers seem very high! Are they correct or is it a case of lazy people not wanting to working using this as an excuse?
DeeZee
Japanese employers continue to act clueless. If they treat their workers like that then they nobody to blame when it comes to "labor shortages". People don't want to be harassed or treated like dirt.
Jonathan Prin
Plenty but nothing specific.
And if a rape is sexual harassment, if I were a woman,I'd never go to interviews.
WoodyLee
If and when the courts starts to handle this matter as serious as other nations do, Japan will continue to be Harsh Place for women to work .
Instead of just listening to the students complaints ! How about start helping these students file lawsuits $$$ against the violators for a change.
Listening wont do it since you have been for the past 30 years or so. the time has come to take ACTION.