TOKYO, Oct 25 (News On Japan) –
A Tokyo District Court has dominated that addressing a colleague utilizing the ‘chan’ suffix constitutes sexual harassment, ordering a male worker to pay 220,000 yen in damages.
The case concerned a girl in her 40s who labored at a Sagawa Express department and claimed to have suffered harassment from a male colleague, main her to file a lawsuit in 2023 searching for about 5.5 million yen in compensation.
According to the ruling, the person routinely referred to the girl with “chan,” a diminutive suffix usually used for kids or intimate companions, and made feedback corresponding to “You’re cute,” “I can see your underwear,” and “You have a nice figure.” The girl later developed melancholy and resigned.
In its October twenty third verdict, the courtroom acknowledged that “chan” is mostly used for babies or these in shut private relationships and that its use in a office setting has little justification. It acknowledged the person’s remarks and habits as sexual harassment and awarded damages of 220,000 yen.
The girl had additionally sued Sagawa Express, however the firm reached a settlement in February 2025, agreeing to pay 700,000 yen as a part of the decision.
Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare has beforehand listed examples exhibiting that utilizing “chan” at work might represent sexual harassment relying on the context.
Harassment prevention professional Yuko Yamafuji commented that the courtroom’s choice shouldn’t be interpreted as recognizing “chan” alone as harassment however relatively as a part of a broader sample of inappropriate office conduct. She added that “while the intention might be to create closeness, workplaces require respect in both language and attitude.”
When interviewed on the streets of Tokyo’s Shinbashi district, most employees stated they name colleagues with “-san,” no matter gender, because it reveals respect and avoids confusion. Some famous that utilizing “chan” with sure coworkers whereas utilizing “san” with others could cause misunderstandings.
Women expressed blended views. One stated that she finds it “creepy” when somebody makes use of “chan” with out being shut, whereas one other stated she didn’t really feel uncomfortable when addressed that method as a result of she interpreted it as a pleasant gesture.
Yamafuji additionally addressed using “kun,” usually utilized to male subordinates, saying it’s typically acknowledged as referring to boys and doesn’t essentially convey skilled respect. She concluded that “-san” stays essentially the most impartial and respectful type of tackle for any colleague, no matter gender or seniority.
Source: FNN