TOKYO - A Tokyo District Court has ruled that addressing a colleague using the 'chan' suffix constitutes sexual harassment, ordering a male employee to pay 220,000 yen in damages.
The case involved a woman in her 40s who worked at a Sagawa Express branch and claimed to have suffered harassment from a male colleague, leading her to file a lawsuit in 2023 seeking about 5.5 million yen in compensation.
According to the ruling, the man routinely referred to the woman with “chan,” a diminutive suffix typically used for children or intimate partners, and made comments such as “You’re cute,” “I can see your underwear,” and “You have a nice figure.” The woman later developed depression and resigned.
In its October 23rd verdict, the court stated that “chan” is generally used for small children or those in close personal relationships and that its use in a workplace setting has little justification. It recognized the man’s remarks and behavior as sexual harassment and awarded damages of 220,000 yen.
The woman had also sued Sagawa Express, but the company reached a settlement in February 2025, agreeing to pay 700,000 yen as part of the resolution.
Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare has previously listed examples showing that using “chan” at work may constitute sexual harassment depending on the context.
Harassment prevention expert Yuko Yamafuji commented that the court’s decision should not be interpreted as recognizing “chan” alone as harassment but rather as part of a broader pattern of inappropriate workplace conduct. She added that “while the intention might be to create closeness, workplaces require respect in both language and attitude.”
When interviewed on the streets of Tokyo’s Shinbashi district, most workers said they call colleagues with “-san,” regardless of gender, as it shows respect and avoids confusion. Some noted that using “chan” with certain coworkers while using “san” with others can cause misunderstandings.
Women expressed mixed views. One said that she finds it “creepy” when someone uses “chan” without being close, while another said she didn’t feel uncomfortable when addressed that way because she interpreted it as a friendly gesture.
Yamafuji also addressed the use of “kun,” often applied to male subordinates, saying it is generally recognized as referring to boys and does not necessarily convey professional respect. She concluded that “-san” remains the most neutral and respectful form of address for any colleague, regardless of gender or seniority.
Source: FNN
