Tecmo Responds To Sexual Harassment Allegations

In a statement available on its corporate website, Japanese developer Tecmo has responded to earlier allegations made by a former employee regarding a sexual harassment suit she made against famed producer Tomonobu Itagaki (Ninja Gaiden, Dead or Alive series). The original allegations, which were reported on in early November, came from a 31 year old ex-employee, who was seeking 10 million yen damages ($85,000) for a series of harassment incidents that began in late 2003 and had continued in the following years. At the time, she had alleged that, upon repeatedly bringing the incidents to Tecmo's attention, she was urged to dismiss the incidents, and that her charges didn't warrant a harassment suit. In the statement (pdf) released by Tecmo, the company maintains that the "statements made in these reports are false," and that "the alleged sexual harassment by Itagaki never took place." The company maintains it undertook a month-long internal investigation into the matter when the former employee brought the charges to the attention of her superiors, and that the case was little more than "the former employee's desire to vent frustrations over her own personal affairs." Despite this, the release does admit that Itagaki and the un-named employee "mingled personal affairs with their corporate responsibilities" and "introduced unnecessary confusion into the workplace," and as a result, both were given demotions and salary reductions. It further goes on to state that initial oral arguments have formally been made in the sexual harassment case, and that specific statements and rebuttals will soon be made. Itagaki is said to also be preparing a countersuit against the employee on defamation charges and seeking damage payments.