Japan Press Weekly

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2008 November 12 - 18 [SDF]

SDF academy head replaced over sexual harassment

The principal of an Air Self-Defense academy was removed from the position in September over allegations of sexual harassment against a female deputy, the Defense Ministry said on November 14.

The ministry usually announces personnel changes involving ranking officers, but it failed to do so in this particular case.

Defense Minister Hamada Yasukazu said at a news conference on the same day that ASDF Maj. Gen. Miyashita Kesayoshi admitted to the allegations and will be reprimanded by the ministry.

Miyashita became the principal of the ASDF First Technical School in Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka Prefecture, in September 2007. But he was transferred to the Defense Ministry’s Air Staff Office on September 18 this year after one of his female deputies reported to the ministry the same month that she was sexually harassed by Miyashita.

In September 2006, a woman member of the ASDF Northern Air Defense Force claimed that she was harassed by her supervisor. The SDF apparently tried to cover up the case by telling her to retire. The woman took the case to a court in May 2007 seeking apology and compensation.