In response to the fact that a female member of the Maritime Self-Defense Force was sexually harassed and that the officer who received the report had met with a man against the woman's wishes and apologized, Defense Minister Kihara issued an urgent message to all members of the Maritime Self-Defense Force, stating that "the important thing in preventing harassment is the awareness of each individual."
A female member of the Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) unit in the Kure district of Hiroshima Prefecture was the victim of sexual harassment from August to December last year, including being hugged and sexually made by a male colleague.
In addition, the commander 8st class, who is the number two officer in this unit, made the female member meet in the same place against her wishes to receive an apology, and the woman subsequently voluntarily resigned.
In response to this, Defense Minister Kihara issued an urgent message to all members of the SDF on June 12, saying, "The most important thing in preventing harassment is the awareness of each and every individual, and let's be aware every day so that everyone can proudly say that the SDF is a workplace where they can work with peace of mind."
He also instructed managers, "I want you to work hard with me to make sure that the Ministry of Defense and the Self-Defense Forces become organizations that do not tolerate harassment at all, that they have become workplaces where you can work with peace of mind, and that they will be recognized not only by the members of the military but also by the public."