A tragic incident has emerged involving a former female employee of Japan's Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, who took her own life after suffering from severe harassment at work, including sexual harassment from her superior. Her family, including her husband and parents, have filed a lawsuit against the government seeking approximately 140 million yen in damages, asserting that the government failed to implement necessary measures to protect her. The case has drawn significant attention as it highlights the serious issue of workplace harassment in Japan.

The lawsuit was presented at the Fukuoka District Court, where it was revealed that the woman, who worked at the Kyushu Agricultural Administration Bureau, was subjected to inappropriate comments and physical advances by a male colleague during a social gathering in May 2018. Following this incident, she faced retaliatory harassment, including verbal abuse when she attempted to avoid her superior at subsequent events. The woman developed mental health issues, including PTSD and depression, leading to her taking leave in September 2018 and ultimately resigning in 2022. Tragically, she committed suicide in 2023, unable to cope with the lasting effects of the harassment.

The plaintiffs argue that the government has a responsibility to provide a harassment-free workplace and that its failure to do so constitutes a violation of its duty of care. After the allegations were made, the supervisory official was suspended for nine months, yet the family contends that this action was insufficient, and they are seeking recognition of the direct link between the workplace harassment and her mental health decline, which the government has already partially acknowledged by recognizing the incident as a public disaster under worker's compensation laws. This case underscores the urgent need for systemic changes in addressing workplace harassment in Japan.