The Finance Minister of Japan has decided not to investigate or punish Junichi Fukuda, the ministry’s top bureaucrat, over allegations he sexually harassed female journalists because Fukuda had “shown sufficient remorse.”
The Shukan Shincho magazine reported that several female reporters complained of being sexually harassed by Fukuda, who asked to kiss them and to take them to a hotel. One alleged he had sexually harassed her at a bar, asking to touch her breasts and kiss her.
Finance Minister Taro Aso, however, reported the Diet (parliament):
“I told him to act with a sense of propriety, given the current climate*. As I felt he was sufficiently remorseful, I don’t intend to investigate further.”
The minister said that “an oral warning is enough” and he felt it was unnecessary to punish Fukuda.
The power of an apology in Japan culture is truly amazing!
BREAKING NEWS! April 18, 2018
Junichi Fukuda, was just forced to step down after the weekly magazine, Shukan Shincho, publicized a voice recording of what it claimed was Fukuda sexually harassing a female journalist. The magazine uploaded recorded conversations onto YouTube in which a man alleged to be Fukuda can be heard saying, “Can I touch your boobs?,” “Should we have an affair when the budget is enacted?” and “I will tie your hands.”
TV Asahi also said Thursday at least one of its female employees faced repeated sexual harassment from a top Finance Ministry bureaucrat for over a year and a half, some of which had been recorded. Although they did not release the recording, this undoubtedly contributed plausible deniability of the many claims.
When Finance Minister, Taro Aso, was asked about the complaint previously filed by the TV station, he replied the the "the font sized on the letter was too small." Shall we all pitch in to buy him some reading glasses?
* “Current climate” probably referred to the political scandals Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is facing.
