Photo/Illutration Hiroshi Kawahito, left, a lawyer representing the bereaved family of a 25-year-old Takarazuka Revue Company member who died in an apparent suicide in September 2023, speaks to reporters in Tokyo’s Chiyoda Ward on Feb. 27. (Junichi Miyagawa)

The Takarazuka Revue Company will admit that senior troupe members committed power harassment against another member who later died by apparent suicide, lawyers representing the bereaved family said on Feb. 27.

The family claimed in December that senior troupe members had committed 15 acts of power harassment against their 25-year-old daughter--including burning her forehead with a hair iron on one occasion.

At a news conference on Feb. 27, the family’s lawyers explained the history of negotiations between the woman's family and the revue company. They also released a statement issued by a younger sister of the deceased member, who is also a troupe member.

“The Takarazuka Revue is a world where people commit power harassment daily,” she said. “Even from my perspective, having been part of that world, the harassment my sister suffered was incomparably malicious and extremely terrible.”

According to the family’s lawyers, the revue company said in a document released in January that “if the two sides reach an agreement,” the company will admit that many of the 15 acts constituted harassment.

The company also expressed its intention to issue a deep apology for the negligence of its management, which had operated the company for years by placing various burdens on the troupe members.

However, the lawyers said the company did not clarify which of the 15 acts will be considered power harassment.

The lawyers explained that the company has almost admitted that about half of the acts could constitute harassment, including requiring long working hours, making excessive demands and the burning assault, which its executives had previously called “completely unfounded.”

However, the lawyers indicated that the company has denied that the senior troupe members’ intimidating words and acts amounted to harassment.

The bereaved family insisted that an apology based on the facts should be included in the agreement, regardless of the senior performers’ explanations.

They asked Kazuo Sumi, chairman of Hankyu Hanshin Holdings Inc., to directly apologize to them.

Hankyu Hanshin Holdings is the parent company of Hankyu Corp., a railway company that operates the troupe, which is based in Takarazuka, Hyogo Prefecture.

However, the revue company showed opposition toward the contents of the written apology presented by the bereaved family.

It also has proposed making public only the details of the apology not agreed upon with the bereaved family, while keeping the contents of the agreed-upon apology private, according to the lawyers.

The two sides will continue negotiations and plan to hold a fifth meeting in the first half of March.

The family’s lawyer, Hiroshi Kawahito said, “Respecting third-party testimonies and finding an appropriate point of common ground is the true nature of an agreement.”

He said the two sides are still in disagreement on some issues: “We are not optimistic about reaching a settlement.”

Following the news conference, the revue company posted a statement on its website later in the day, saying, “We refrain from commenting at this point but will continue discussions toward reaching an agreement with the bereaved family.”

In November, the company released an investigative report on the woman’s death, in which it acknowledged management responsibility for her long work hours and other issues but said it could not confirm power harassment against her by senior troupe members.

The woman was found dead on the premises of her apartment in Takarazuka on Sept. 30, 2023.

Hyogo prefectural police believe that the death was likely a suicide.

(This article was written by Takashi Narazaki and Keiichi Kitagawa.)

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