Japan’s military is struggling to recruit women, with instances of sexual harassment leading to a decrease in female applicants for the Self-Defence Forces. Women represent only 9% of military personnel in Japan, compared to 17% in the U.S. As Japan embarks on a major military build-up, policymakers have pledged to recruit more women. Following a wave of sexual harassment cases, the number of women applying to join the SDF decreased by 12% in the year ending March 2023. Despite the defense ministry’s pledge to take drastic measures, it has no plans to implement a national system for reviewing anti-harassment training standards, according to two ministry officials.
An independent panel of experts identified that the military’s superficial harassment education and a lack of centralized oversight of training were contributing factors to cultural problems within the institution. The head of the panel stated that some training sessions were not in line with the seriousness of the situation. A servicewoman who is suing the government over an alleged sexual harassment incident mentioned that the education she received over the past 10 years was ineffective. Calls to increase the number of servicewomen come as Japan faces rising threats from China, North Korea, and Russia.
The defense ministry has hosted harassment prevention lectures by external experts since 2023, made sessions more discussion-based, and planned to invite specialists to review its training. However, the ministry has not indicated whether it will implement the panel’s recommendation to centralize oversight of training. The defense ministry offers an annual online module on general harassment and provides training materials to officers for in-person sessions. The experts concluded that the existing training was not effective in helping people apply the training in real-world situations.
There are concerns within the military that too much focus on harassment could create operational issues and lead to unfair complaints. The defense ministry aims to ensure that commanders do not hesitate to provide necessary guidance on the job due to concerns about harassment. Despite this, the training on sexual harassment largely takes place within a broader anti-harassment curriculum. It was noted that it is challenging to give standardized training on harassment due to service members in high-stress environments who may give direct orders in a way that is unusual in other circumstances.
The U.S., U.K., and France have a much clearer focus on preventing harassment from its root causes, structuring prevention programs around improving the internal climate and culture of the organization. The defense ministry has not addressed the key recommendation to implement a national system for reviewing anti-harassment training standards. The challenges faced by Japan’s military in recruiting women and addressing sexual harassment point to the need for significant changes in policies and training to create a more inclusive and respectful environment within the Self-Defence Forces.
