Japan Press Weekly

Tweet

2013 September 11 - 17 [LABOR]

Worker sues against punitive dismissal by manga publisher

A woman filed a lawsuit with the Tokyo District Court on September 11, seeking revocation of the punitive dismissal she was given after reporting her publisher’s repeated faking of the number of sweepstakes winners.

The 28-year-old plaintiff is also demanding that Akita Publishing Co., Ltd. pay her unpaid wages.

Joining the publishing company in 2007 as an editor of girls’ manga magazines, the woman was also tasked to send gifts to winners in the magazines’ sweepstakes. She was frequently ordered by her boss to send the less gifts than what was actually announced in the magazines.

As retaliation for her repeated calls on the company to correct the dishonest act of faking the actual number of winners, she suffered power harassment by her superiors, who used abusive words to her, such as, “As a new recruit, you have no job options,” and, “Get out of the company!” She eventually experienced emotional distress and had to take sick leave.

The publisher claims that it dismissed the female worker because she had stolen the gifts.

At a press conference she held on the same day with officials of the Tokyo Young Contingent Workers’ Union, the woman said, “I cannot forgive the publisher for putting the blame on me and trying to hide what it has done. The chief editor who ordered the wrongdoing is still working as chief editor.”

She described how the company has destroyed her childhood dream to be a manga editor and how she has suffered from mental and physical disorders which have prevented her from eating and sleeping regularly. “I will continue to fight against this injustice,” she said.

Past related article:
> Manga publisher dismisses whistleblower [August 22, 2013]