Photo/Illutration Makoto Tadaki, right, who heads an expert panel, hands over recommendations to address workplace harassment at the Defense Ministry and the SDF to Satoshi Mikai, the ministry’s director-general of the Bureau of Personnel and Education on Aug. 18. (Nobuhiko Tajima)

A large-scale probe into the Defense Ministry and the Self-Defense Forces revealed more than 1,000 cases of harassment, yet more than half the victims didn’t come forward to report it.

On Aug. 18, the Defense Ministry released the results of the investigation, which was carried out in response to a sexual assault complaint filed by Rina Gonoi, a former Ground SDF member.

The Defense Ministry uncovered 1,325 cases of harassment including 1,115 cases of power harassment, 179 cases of sexual harassment and 56 cases of maternity harassment against women due to pregnancy or motherhood. Some cases involved multiple harassments.

Despite the alarming number of incidents, victims didn’t turn to dedicated hotlines for help in 850 cases, or 64.2 percent of the total. 

The probe was launched in September 2022, when Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada tasked the Inspector General’s Office of Legal Compliance with the assignment. 

A panel of independent experts on the issue also made recommendations to the ministry.

The panel called for increased training and education for officials at management positions, who are at higher risk of carrying out harassment. 

It also urged the ministry to reassure its officials and SDF members that they will suffer no disadvantage of any kind even if they come forward with their complaint.

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