1,000 texts, groping: report lifts lid on ex-Japan governor’s sex harassment scandal
Former Fukui governor Tatsuji Sugimoto sent messages such as ‘I want to kiss you’ to at least four female staff members
Among the messages were those in which Sugimoto sought sexual relationships with multiple female staff and commented on their physical appearance. He also touched female staff members’ bodies several times, according to the report, which was based on a survey of around 6,000 employees.
“The feeling of victimisation was extremely severe,” the report said, describing his responsibility as “grave”. It said his actions could have violated the anti-stalking law or constituted the crime of non-consensual indecency.
Sugimoto, 63, sent sexual texts such as “I want to kiss you” and “I have an irresistible urge to hug you” to at least four female staff. He warned them not to reveal the texts to other people, telling them, “keep it completely secret and take it to your grave”.
Sugimoto, a former internal affairs ministry bureaucrat, sent the texts using the Line app and his private email address, the report said. A team of three lawyers was appointed by the Fukui prefectural government to investigate the case.
The investigation also confirmed acts of harassment during social events. Sugimoto put his hand inside a female staff member’s skirt and touched her buttocks, and also sat side by side on a two-seat sofa with a female staff member and touched her thigh, the report said.