TOKYO -- Eight Japanese prefectures reviewed their public-interest whistleblower systems after a written complaint alleged power harassment by Hyogo Gov. Motohiko Saito, a nationwide Mainichi Shimbun survey has found.
Separately, Hyogo and three other prefectures improved their whistleblower systems in response to scandals involving their governors or employees. While these reviews include measures such as the use of outside lawyers, one expert told the Mainichi that continued reform is still needed.
The Whistleblower Protection Act defines "whistleblowing" as identifying wrongdoing within an organization, such as an administrative body or company, and reporting it to a designated contact point. Organizations that receive such reports must investigate their contents and, if there are problems, take corrective action.
The Mainichi Shimbun surveyed all 47 prefectures in April and May this year. It asked about the number of internal reports filed by employees in governors' departments and the state of reporting systems, and then conducted additional interviews with officials.
Asked whether they had reviewed their internal reporting systems in response to the Hyogo Prefecture complaint case, eight prefectures answered yes: Hokkaido, Gunma, Ishikawa, Shiga, Osaka, Nara, Okayama and Kochi. Of those, Gunma and Osaka prefectures revised guidelines setting out procedures for whistleblowing. They decided that whether to accept or reject a report would be determined only after...
Welcome to Reality Check, NewsGuard’s nonpartisan newsletter that tracks the false claims and conspiracy theories that shape our world — and who’s behind them. Please support us by becoming a premi...