TOKYO - Whistleblowers who expose suspected wrongdoing at companies and other organizations in Japan are increasingly finding themselves targeted by multimillion-yen damages claims, raising questions over whether the country's legal system adequately protects people who report misconduct.
Those facing lawsuits say the claims are intended as retaliation or an attempt to silence them. Cases involving demands exceeding 20 million yen and approaching 50 million yen have imposed severe financial and psychological burdens, even though Japan's Whistleblower Protection Act is intended to protect people who disclose wrongdoing in the public interest.
One case involves the operator of Momuri, a resignation agency that attracted widespread attention for helping workers leave their jobs. Investigators searched the company's offices after allegations that it had violated the Attorneys Act, with information from former employees among the factors that brought the case to light.
Former company president Shinji Tanimoto has been charged with violating the Attorneys Act and admitted the charge in court, saying he deeply regretted engaging in such conduct in a high-profile business providing resignation services.
At the same time, however, litigation has been proceeding against people involved in exposing misconduct at the company.
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