How should companies in Japan respond to workplace harassment allegations while ensuring compliance with Japanese law?
Workplace harassment remains a key compliance challenge for companies operating in Japan. Employers are required to take appropriate measures to prevent harassment, respond to complaints and conduct prompt and impartial investigations when allegations arise. Handling such cases can be particularly challenging for subsidiaries of foreign companies, where differences in workplace culture, communication styles and expectations may add another layer of complexity.
Join this seminar, held in cooperation with Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu, to gain expert legal insights and practical guidance on handling workplace harassment cases in Japan. The session will combine a legal keynote with an interactive panel discussion featuring practical scenarios relevant to international business environments.
Key Topics include:
- Types of Workplace Harassment Under Japanese Law: An overview of the three main categories — power harassment, sexual harassment, and harassment related to pregnancy, childbirth, childcare leave, and family care leave — as well as the new category of customer harassment.The session will also address employers' legal obligations to respond to and investigate reported incidents promptly and appropriately.
- Conducting Effective Investigations: Practical guidance on fact-finding procedures, including interviewing complainants, witnesses and alleged perpetrators, while safeguarding the privacy, confidentiality and mental well-being of everyone involved. If time permits, the session will also touch upon recent amendments to Japan's Whistleblower Protection Act.
- Challenging Scenarios in Practice: An interactive panel discussion addressing common dilemmas faced by HR professionals, including:
- How to proceed when an alleged victim does not wish for an investigation to take place.
- What measures may be appropriate when an investigation does not establish that harassment occurred.
- How to account for differences in workplace cultures in international and multicultural settings.
- The legal implications and evidentiary value of secret recordings.
- How to handle repeated harassment complaints or situations in which allegations may be used strategically to pursue other objectives.
The seminar is designed for managers and HR professionals at companies operating in Japan, providing practical, up-to-date guidance on handling actual and suspected workplace harassment cases and conducting legally compliant investigations. Participants will gain the knowledge and practical tools needed to respond effectively to harassment allegations, navigate complex situations and ensure their companies meet their obligations under Japan's evolving regulatory framework.
We are looking forward to your participation!
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Participation Fee
Free of Charge | for AHK Japan Members and Non-Members
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Tuesday, 1 December 2026
15:30 ‐ 18:00 (JST) | Door open: 15:00 (JST)
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Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu
JP Tower, 2-7-2 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-7036, Japan (reception 36th floor)
Programme
Remarks
Language: English
Catering: Fingerfood & Drinks
Participation Costs: Free of Charge
Registration Deadline: Friday, November 27 2026
Expected Participants: 80 pax | Managers, HR directors, compliance officers, and in-house counsel at foreign-affiliated companies in Japan who are responsible for HR matters, internal reporting systems, harassment prevention, and workplace investigations.
*Please note that participation by representatives of other law firms is restricted for this event. Thank you for your understanding.
Speakers
Satoshi Hosokawa - Partner, Employment and Litigation
Satoshi Hosokawa is an experienced employment and labor lawyer. His experience includes complex cross-border matters, workplace investigations, and dispute resolution. Foreign-based clients regularly turn to him for assistance with difficult and sensitive employment situations in Japan, where he combines a strong understanding of Japanese employment law with an appreciation of the practical, cultural, and organizational challenges facing multinational businesses. His experience also extends to the employment aspects of cross-border M&A, including due diligence, restructuring, employee transitions, and post-closing integration.
Dr. Axel Kuhlmann – Partner, Corporate/M&A and Employment
Dr. Axel Kuhlmann is a corporate/M&A and employment partner and co-head of Nagashima’s European Practice Group. He has extensive experience advising Japanese and international clients on cross-border M&A transactions, both inbound and outbound, and multinational companies on a broad range of employment matters in Japan, including workforce restructuring, employee transfers, compliance and labor union matters. Qualified in Germany and deeply familiar with both European and Japanese business environments, Axel combines transactional and employment expertise with a strong cross-cultural perspective, helping clients navigate complex legal and business issues across jurisdictions.
Yuki Sawada – Senior Associate, Employment and Litigation
Yuki Sawada focuses on employment and labor law, with experience in complex cross-border matters, workplace investigations, and dispute resolution. He advises foreign-based clients on a wide range of employment issues arising from their operations in Japan, with particular attention to the legal, practical, and cultural challenges faced by multinational businesses.
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