Japanese city officials face workplace harassment accusations in Maibara and Yokohama

A recent survey in Maibara City, Shiga Prefecture, revealed that 11.3% of municipal employees reported experiencing harassment, prompting scrutiny of the city administration’s response.

In Yokohama, an external investigation by a team of lawyers concluded that Mayor Yamanaka Takeharu engaged in serious power‑harassment behavior. The report confirmed incidents such as throwing documents at staff, shouting, repeatedly ignoring employees, and using demeaning language like “worthless” and “human trash.” The investigators described the mayor’s conduct as “extremely serious” and “cannot be overlooked.”