Japan city councilor quits over harassment of Australian mayor's daughter

"... he held the microphone close to the lower body of the mayor's daughter..." 

What?! A bit more explanation is needed to determine the nature of the alleged harassment.

Nagata said earlier this week that he wanted to set the mood for the party and had no intention of doing anything wrong but regrets his actions.

Nothing ever changes with these old-arsed politicians who think they are demi-gods.

The Minokamo city took his action as inappropriate, yet Nagata will not resign as an assembly member.

He steps down as vice speaker, but still is an assembly member. He more than likely got the position because he finished with the 2nd highest number of votes in the assemblycritter elections, hence his thinking his quano doesnt stink, and that he's safe from any further repercussions.

Sadly, this is all too common and not unusual in Japan.

Sukebe Oyaji!

… yet Nagata will not resign as an assembly member.

And his Japanese compatriots will likely not have the fortitude to remove this embarrassing fool from office.

he held the microphone close to the lower body of the mayor's daughter, who is in her 20s. Nagata said earlier this week that he wanted to set the mood for the party

Naah, that's not creepy at all from a 71 year old.

At an afterparty, the 71-year-old Nagata, who was accompanied by Dickerson's family, was singing karaoke in a bar when he held the microphone close to the lower body of the mayor's daughter, who is in her 20s.

A lot of female JETs experience similar issues.

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2023/01/24/crime-legal/nagasaki-jet-sexual-harassment/

The Minokamo city took his action as inappropriate, yet Nagata will not resign as an assembly member.

And as in this case consequences are rare.

Perhaps the offender as very short and the victim was very tall ?

Nothing ever changes with these old-arsed politicians who think they are demi-gods.

Yup! You said it!

Welcome to Japan.

Culture Rules for Women #42: When a lewd ojiisan sexually harnesses you, just laugh shly and act demure.

At an afterparty, the 71-year-old Nagata, who was accompanied by Dickerson's family, was singing karaoke in a bar when he held the microphone close to the lower body of the mayor's daughter, who is in her 20s.

Where's the usual Japanese diplomatic statement, I don't remember what happened.

That 71-year-old just forgot that young lady not just usual low paid foreign ALT that couldn't complain anywhere.

A life spent in high end snack bars can do funny things to people. They forget what is appropriate behavior and start believing all of the praise piled on them by the professional ladies at work fleecing them. The floating bubble world.

This old geeza learing over the Aussie mayors 20 year old daughter brought reality crashing in, big time. The bubble done pop. Bet he still doesn’t know what all the fuss is about. Wonder what if relations between the two cities will continue and if the Aussie media got hold of it? Not a great look old fella.

@Ricky Kaminski13

A life spent in high end snack bars can do funny things to people. They forget what is appropriate behavior and start believing all of the praise piled on them by the professional ladies at work fleecing them. The floating bubble world.

Those professional ladies at his work, can't complain especially small city like that, where not so many work opportunities around. Office job, in that kind small town is considered good job even with harassments. Those poor ladies at his work just has no place to complain. With his age, he's quite senior so in that kind of area, he can be considered has strong influence in every aspect of that city life but not anymore.

This article has more information

https://www.nagoyatv.com/news/?id=024191

Wonder what if relations between the two cities will continue and if the Aussie media got hold of it?

I dunno. Japan and Japanese are never really held to the same standards. The it's-a-different-culture defence has been internalised by a lot of foreigners. And Dubbo's mayor has already said he "would like to formally acknowledge and accept the apology" from the mayor of Minokamo.

Without furthehr details, this sounds like a storm in a sake cup, hyped up by the overly sensitive PC Aussies.

The headline and the lead are a bit misleading. He didn't quit the assembly altogether -- he's just stepping down as the vice speaker but remaining an assembly member.

That's not nearly good enough. He should resign from the assembly entirely, or failing that, be forced out -- either by the other assembly members, or by pressure from the city's residents.

Absolutely no excuse for his behavior.

In his drunken state he mistook her for a Japanese woman.

JeffLee Today  06:46 am JST

What?! A bit more explanation is needed to determine the nature of the alleged harassment.

Given the shape of the object in question, the anatomical area near where it was being held, the reaction by the family and their calling it "inappropriate," and the councilor's subsequent apology?

Really? You can't figure it out yourself?

Ego Sum Lux MundiToday  10:01 am JST

Without furthehr details, this sounds like a storm in a sake cup, hyped up by the overly sensitive PC Aussies.

Sexual harassment may seem like a 'storm in a teacup'. I understand that you might not be aware of the impact of sexual harassment, but it's a serious issue that affects many women, in their daily lives. Sexual harassment can cause significant emotional distress, create a hostile environment, and even lead to long-term trauma.

Shadows of the Rising Sun Today  10:08 am JST

In his drunken state he mistook her for a Japanese woman.

Unfortunately, that city's voters mistook him for a decent human being.

In many areas and in this specific case which is part of gender equality Japan is seriously far behind.

Now the rest of the world can see how perverts operate here. This barely rates a mention on local news, but the ABC covered this one.

Just for anyone who has not seen the demonstration replays on TV, while he was drunkenly singing he suddenly lurched forward and pointed the microphone close to her crotch.

Maybe it was his standard party trick, and he was expecting roars of applause.

Nagata said earlier this week that he wanted to set the mood for the party and had no intention of doing anything wrong but regrets his actions.

Nothing says "good party" like

when he held the microphone close to the lower body of the mayor's daughter

> > > "My daughter was surprised at the time and the three of us (including his wife) exchanged glances at what was an inappropriate gesture," Dickerson said in an email sent to Kyodo News. "We discussed it briefly the next day, but the issue was not of a serious enough nature to warrant any further action."

Well, without actual detail, we don't even know, what the heck actually happened. Clearly it was something normal people don't do.

Nagata will not resign as an assembly member.

of course not. he's not finished with his list of "dumb things that need to be accomplished" yet.

News Station covered this a few days back.

Watching the video there is nothing but condemnation for Nagata.

The newscasters were of the same opinion - like wtf.

In all situations the act - as nandakanda stated mike to the crotch - is disgusting, but to foreign dignitaries celebrating a harmonious sister city relationship - well you just gotta shake your head in utter disbelief.

In most other modern democracies this guys public career would have ended that day.

Goodbye, Good riddance with no golden handshake.

To move forward the still lagging Japan companies & Govt agencies just have to sweep clean the deadwood and detritus still clogging up the system.

Lots of keen, bright 21stC thinking young people in Japan. Time for a massive takeover.

browny1Today  12:16 pm JST

News Station covered this a few days back.

Watching the video there is nothing but condemnation for Nagata.

The newscasters were of the same opinion - like wtf.

Browny - are you saying the newscasters were also condemning Nagata, or were they supporting him?

Culture Rules for Women #42: When a lewd ojiisan sexually harnesses you, just laugh shly and act demure.

https://ja.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E7%B7%8A%E7%B8%9B

A harnessing we will go……….

> oyatoiToday 01:18 pm JST

Culture Rules for Women #42: When a lewd ojiisan sexually harnesses you, just laugh shly and act demure.

> https://ja.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E7%B7%8A%E7%B8%9B

> A harnessing we will go……….

lol an appropriate autocorrect-fail!

What a storm !

He was drunk.

What kind of mood was Norio Nagata trying to set? Microphone to the lower body means what? Fart jokes?

Shadows - the newscasters were noticeably "Geeezzz -".

The discrete nature of reporting this story is meant to limit shock and embarassment for the victim. Get over the minutia please, just know that this kind of behaviour does not belong in any international relation context.

Had it been a young Japanese woman he had done it too, not only would nothing have come of it (in terms of harassment claims), but she would have had to smile and laugh and put up with even more after.

Samit BasuMay 11  07:02 am JST

Sadly, this is all too common and not unusual in Japan.

Very common in South Korea too. Maybe even moreso.

Low bar, but at least she was an adult.

...in that case, mayor dubbo may have clubbo'd the guy.

Given the shape of the object in question, the anatomical area near where it was being held, the reaction by the family and their calling it "inappropriate," and the councilor's subsequent apology?

Except would the family be this accomodating had that been the case?

"My daughter was surprised at the time and the three of us (including his wife) exchanged glances at what was an inappropriate gesture," Dickerson said in an email sent to Kyodo News. "We discussed it briefly the next day, but the issue was not of a serious enough nature to warrant any further action."