Tecmo’s Tomonobu Itagaki, the creator of the Dead or Alive series, faces claims of sexual harassment from a former employee.
According to ZAKZAK, a Japanese publication, the former employee asserts that Itagaki began to sexually harass her three years ago and continued to do so for some time. She alleges that Itagaki “forcibly kissed” her on many occasions and he was also “locking the reception and wrapping his arms around her” multiple times.
An internal investigation by the company found that the incidents were displays of “mutual affection” but Itagaki was still demoted from his position of Managing Executive Officer this past August, possibly due to improper behavior. The former employee was not satisfied and quit the company on September 8th, filing a lawsuit against Itagaki two days later and demanding 10 million yen (approx. $85,000 US) in damages.
“There was a difference of opinions, and it will be cleared up in the trial,” said a member of Tecmo’s management to Evening Fuji, a ZAKZAK sister publication.
Source: 1Up
Published: Nov 7, 2006 03:30 pm