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Former Konami employee sues for discrimination photo

A female ex-Konami employee by the name of Yoko Sekiguchi is apparently suing the publisher for ¥33 million ($344,000) in damages for what she describes as sexual discrimination. In her words, she says that she went on maternity leave last October and was absent through April, but when she came back to work, Konami demoted her and docked her pay by ¥200,000 ($2,000) per month (original story can be seen here).

Sekiguchi commented on the issue:

"This is discrimination aimed at female employees who chose to take maternity leave," she said. "...I decided to take legal action because fellow female employees are experiencing the same type of treatment."

Miss Sekiguchi seems to have apparently forgotten that this is Japan, where women have been considered inferior for hundreds of years. Oh well, good for her for sticking up for herself, if it's the real deal. Would it change your opinion of Konami if this claim was proved true?

[Gamasutra Via Kotaku]








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Colette Bennett is a Destructoid features editor from New Orleans, Louisiana. She is also a founding member of Destructoid's sister sites Tomopop, a toy lover's blog and Japanator, our anime site. Likes Nintendo DS, NES, Silent Hill series, Rhythm games, RPGs Meet the rest of the team



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15 comments | showing # 1 to 15
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Kraid's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/18/2009 15:43
Kraid
Men are talking , your whore mouth ; I command you to shut it.
Shin Oni's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/18/2009 15:56
Shin Oni
Konami's dead until I see them release their Grip on Kojima so he can leave MGS for something else.
Clayton S Chan's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/18/2009 15:59
Clayton S Chan
Why would that image cover "mouth" and not "whore"?
Fyrebrand's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/18/2009 16:07
Fyrebrand
That's... seriously not cool. Hell yeah, it colors my opinion of Konami. But, I'm sure there's some fine print in a contract somewhere that can "justify" anything.
GoldenGamerXero's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/18/2009 16:11
GoldenGamerXero
Screw Konami they're horrible employers if this crap happens for reals. I want to send this to some bitch who's suing for one of those fake asshole SH complains to show them what real Sexual Harassment looks like.

@Shin Oni

Hell yeah! Just give him some crayons and some shrooms and they would have a best seller on their hands.

@Clayton S Chan

It's not a censor I think the guy just drew Phoenix in the corner.
Naktu's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/18/2009 16:16
Naktu
Brilliant header.
AngryJoeShow's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/18/2009 16:17
AngryJoeShow
I lol'ed at that picture are there more like it? Where the hell can I find these awesome pictures dtoid seems to have a stockpile of them somewhere. please share the wealth!
Elsa's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/18/2009 16:35
Elsa
Unfortunately it seems that in the video game industry, the ill treatment of employees isn't limited to women.

... glad to see this case going forward though... it takes balls (even if she is a she!) to do this type of thing in a relatively close knit industry - but it may make for positive changes for other employees in the industry.
AClockWorkMelon's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/18/2009 17:07
AClockWorkMelon
She should stop suing and get back in the kitchen amirite?

But yeah, Colette, about women being inferior for hundreds of years in Japan-
isn't that true of almost any culture?

P.S. Your name reminds me of toothpaste.
Ries's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/18/2009 17:07
Ries
Konami's lawyer responded with this comment:

Jesus H Christ's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/18/2009 17:11
Jesus H Christ
Six months for maternity leave? Harden up, Nancy.

(trolling)
Darkanubis87's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/18/2009 17:20
Darkanubis87
best post pic ever! that is all. <3
ZeeJayTL's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/18/2009 19:02
ZeeJayTL
Seriously though? Like half a year? Dont you get like...a month in USA?
BluDesign's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/18/2009 22:08
BluDesign
@zeejay

You're allowed 6 weeks by law. Many employers offer 6 months leave with reduced pay.

Being that this is Japan, they probably have their own standards for maternity leave.

I don't see that as a sexist thing. Konami felt that her position was one that needed someone there while she was on maternity leave and replaced her. They kept her in the company and put her in a new position, though at reduced pay.

I think I'd hold off judgment about how kosher this is in Japan until we all know more about how Japanese companies treat maternity leave. For all we know, this could be a lot more common than we realize.

At any rate, Japan needs to get with the times and offer competitive terms to other countries.
elysse's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/19/2009 12:26
elysse
Inferior... problems with maternity leave...

Not just Japan, either. *sadface*
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