Organizational challenges when harassment occurs in Japanese universities

Taichi Akutsu, Ph.D.

Violinist and Researcher in Music Education

Akihiko Ozaki, M.D., Ph.D.

Physician at the Medical Governance Research Institute

Abstract

　This paper examines the organizational challenges that arise during the initial response to harassment at public universities in Japan, with particular attention to the stage before a formal investigation is launched. Drawing on publicly available harassment regulations and guidelines together with a hypothetical case of academic harassment, the study compares institutional provisions with the response that such a case would likely elicit. Two problems are identified: the urgency of a complaint is not systematically recognized at the first point of contact, and emergency protective measures are difficult to trigger because the authority to judge severity is concentrated in the President. The paper argues that combining the conventional punishment model with an early intervention model, and allowing flexible movement between the two, is necessary to protect students and to prevent secondary harm.

Keywords: academic harassment; university governance; initial response; victim protection; Japan

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