TOKYO: A firestorm in Japan over allegations of sexual harassment by the top finance ministry official is raising the possibility that the country could finally be having its “#MeToo moment”.
The international movement against sexual assault and harassment has brought down movie moguls, media stars and political figures across the world, even in patriarchal East Asia.
In China, the education ministry has declared a “zero tolerance” policy on harassment, and in South Korea a former presidential contender now faces rape charges.
But in Japan, with its deeply entrenched gender attitudes and one of the world’s worst records on female political representation, #MeToo’s impact has been limited — until now.
Junichi Fukuda fiercely denies that he sexually harassed female reporters, allegations first reported last week by a magazine that has released audio of what it says was one of the encounters.
He stepped down Wednesday, saying the scandal had left him unable to do his job, and has threatened to sue the magazine.
The story has dominated headlines domestically, a development some experts said was a sign the #MeToo movement might finally be taking hold.
“The global #MeToo movement probably encouraged women who had been suffering harassment to speak up, giving them a sense of assurance that they don’t have to tolerate it,” said Sumire Hamada of the Asia-Japan Women’s Resource Centre, a rights group.
But the episode has also laid bare how difficult it remains to report sexual harassment in Japan, and despite the apparent shift in mood, there is little immediate sign of tangible change.
One of the journalists who alleges Fukuda harassed her reported him to her boss at the local TV Asahi station but was told that going public would be too damaging, because her identity would be revealed.
And when the allegations against Fukuda first emerged, Finance Minister Taro Aso reacted dismissively, saying he had no plans to investigate.
He had verbally admonished Fukuda, he said, and considered him to be “sufficiently remorseful”.
