Society nowadays is filled with harassment.
Seriously, you're like a spreading virus no one can get rid of.
There are sexual, power, moral, and many other types of harassment.
Even though people in Japan have been made aware of it,
nothing has changed and harassment still occurs.
The age discrimination of women is ridiculed.
She was forced to quit because this kid joined.
Unforgivable.
He likes the company of young women.
Older, plain-looking female workers are not valued.
Only the young and the beautiful are praised.
Do you have any skill apart from being young?
Maybe something will change because of you.
Age harassment.
In short, A-hara.
Bringing tea is also a very important job.
Idiots, I will fight you tooth and nail.
If it's that important, why don't you do it yourself?
Isn't your tone improper?
Age, power, moral - this is a department full of harassment!
Don't tell me what to do when you yourself do nothing!
Later on we will, Yoshii-kun...
Talk later, apologize later, approve later, think about it later...
You keep putting things off, it's all just an act!
This is a story about a woman fighting against age harassment.
Age Harassment Episode 2
Original air date: July 16th, 2015
I'm resigining from the company.
Yoshii Emiri (22)
Teito Trading General Affairs Dpt
General Affairs section chief
Osawa Yuriko (41)
I did my best to try to like the job within General Affairs,
but it's impossible for me.
I don't want to waste my youth here.
If I was transferred to another department,
I would be known as the woman who won by yelling at her boss.
I wouldn't be able to do my job.
I don't really want to fight with anyone.
With that being said, I will look for a new job.
The only thing she can do now is quit, after all that she said.
It'll be gloomy if she's gone...
A white swan amongst the herd of black ones...
Sorry!
So its our fault for being black swans...
General Affairs Dept
Ikawa Yu (25)
She'll quit, won't she... if not, she'll always have to watch her back.
Nakazato Keiko (47)
General Affairs staff
She won't find another job that easily.
Let alone a job in a leading company like ours.
Abe Maria (52)
General Affairs Temporary worker
Ikura Masao (54)
General Affairs manager
It looks like she is quitting today.
Resignation letter template.
Who's there?
Dad!
Yo!
Why so suddenly?
I arrived this morning.
I'm sorry I came unexpectedly and without gifts.
It's okay, but the flight?
I chose a cheap one.
Even for the flight, I was on the verge of asking an old friend for money.
In the end, I didn't ask anyone for a loan.
Should I make something? I have only eggplant.
It's okay.
Mom prepared lunch, but I didn't have time to eat it. Here.
Tada!
I'll make tea, then.
Hot or cold, which one you prefer?
The cold one.
You know, everyone I meet says this to me:
"Your daughter joined Teitou, right?"
"That's something. She's pretty, went to a top university,
and works for Teitou. She has it nice since the beginning.
"I want a daughter like that! Yoshii-san, you're a winner," they say.
Everyone says so.
- Here. - Thanks.
But they are also jealous of you.
I can't say you lend us money.
Everyone knows about the shop, right?
I quit the company when I was 50.
Everybody knew I started a tavern in our hometown.
But nobody knows it went bankrupt 2 years later.
People keep asking "how's the shop?"
I say: "It's the only stylish small shop in Hokkaido...it's blooming!"
They think I didn't borrow money, and I don't tell them either.
50 million yen = approx 525,000 CAD or 402,500 USD (using August 2015 exchange rates)
But you have a 50 million yen debt, right?
I'm glad they didn't lend me money.
If they did, it would have ended the friendship.
We would be cold towards each other, I know that.
But you know, I'm happy. My daughter is being praised so much...
I am sorry to quit in such a way.
I'll listen to your wish later.
Your wish to quit the company, that is.
You absolutely mustn't decide on important things in the spur of the moment.
Do not say a word about quitting to anyone,
not the chief nor deputy chief, no one.
You can't make decision while angry.
What is it? Don't worry.
If something happens, just go
"Idiots! I will fight you tooth and nail!" from the top of your lungs
and you'll overcome it.
30,000 JPY = approx 315 CAD or 240 USD
Dad, I can give you about 30,000 now.
It's okay, really. We got our part this month.
- It's okay. - No, but--
It's okay. Eat your meat, okay?
- Mom's rice balls were delicious. - I'll tell her that.
Dad was born on the day Tokyo Tower was opened.
Tokyo Tower was opened in 1958.
They named him Takao so that he can be the tallest person in the world.
Takao ?? - "tall man"
There are many weird places in Tokyo, right?
- You need to be careful. - Got it.
That's her. The bosses...
- The shouting girl. - She's pretty.
-That's the girl I told you about. - Why would she come here?
She came... Amazing.
Director Gondo!
Gondo Susumu (63)
Teitou Trading Managing Director
Hi.
It seems you've done some funny stuff.
Not at all. Good morning.
Do as you please.
Gradually open doors to make women in the company shine!
You didn't change into the uniform, so that means...
I came to apologize.
I will not quit.
I reflected on my actions.
From now on I will do anything as a General Affairs employee.
I am terribly sorry for what I did.
Good.
From now on.
Yes, from now on.
- There will be a punishment. - A punishment?
We have Family Summer Festival on 8th of August, right?
I'd like you to take care of it.
Yes.
You'll do the chores that you hate the most
You'll get to know how General Affairs works for the first time.
I'll do it.
Seriously, I though she'd quit.
Noda Mika (29)
General Affairs Staff
She turned around and apologized.
Takahashi Kokone (26)
General Affairs staff
She is too brazen, huh.
As a temporary worker, I understand why she did it.
Earning money as a full-time employee...
I wouldn't quit.
You keep taking medication, is something wrong with you?
No way, supplements.
Beautiful skin and youth come with great effort, don't they?
I get this feeling when I look at you.
What are you saying, I'm 47.
I've been wondering all this time,
Nakazato-san is fine with revealing her age.
Right! Many people hide it.
Reporting a different age in legal documents or foreigners who won't reveal their age?
It's simply wrong. A proof of being aware of one's age: I'm 47.
Looking at you, one can't tell how old you are.
But when Yoshii-san is around, you can totally see...
Excuse me?
I prefer being natural the most. I don't do a thing.
I'm relieved she didn't quit for now.
We don't have enough people for the festival.
Moreover, newbies take time and effort. When they quit after getting paid for 4 months,
it puts you in a bad light.
Right.
She doesn't need much guidance,
Hoshina Akihiko (36)
Textiles Second Dept Section chief
I just want her to be able to do her tasks well.
That's General Affairs, huh.
Are making fun of me?
Not at all, no.
We are able to do our job because General Affairs does theirs.
- Thanks for your hard work. - Thanks.
Dad? I sent you 30,000 yen.
I'm fine.
The boss has expectations of me.
Yeah. I'll do my best.
Say hi to mom too.
So the lanterns, playground and stalls are prepared,
almost everything is set, we should make it in time.
Any other ideas?
Yes.
Please.
I only read the materials, but...
How about making a mascot?
We won't make it in time, will we?
We don't have any design or a costume after all.
I thought about something like a mask that you can wear on your head.
I named it Teitou-chan.
Kids may be happy, and parents can wear it too.
If we ask PR, they'll do the design for us, won't they?
One more thing, how about a tour around the place for parents?
A lot of companies do that.
You can't do much with a trading company. Desks and chairs. Kids won't like it.
Wouldn't they be proud to see where their fathers work?
This could totally work.
Hiramoto Daisuke (37)
General Affairs Dept
Even so, it's a little outside of our job description for General Affairs...
I'm a temporary worker. - Sorry.
You don't have to apologize.
- Sorry! - I'd give it a go too, you know.
Someone from the guest section will be the guide and make sure everything's in order.
- We're getting off-track. - I'll do it.
So, Yoshii-san, Noda-san and Takahashi-san, go to PR
to discuss the mascot. - Okay.
We're getting off-track here.
It's too sudden...
But for Emiri-chan,
we can't say no to the person on the cover of our company's brochure.
Are you serious?
I'm happy.
Hi! Emiri-chan, what happened?
We have a favour to ask about the festival...
Whatever you need, Emiri-chan.
Arikawa Osamu (48)
PR Dept Section Chief
As the section chief said, Emiri-chan.
Thank you.
Every year General Affairs gives ideas, you must have a lot of free time.
It's not that. It's the task for General Affairs to strengthen the bonds between employees.
Emiri-chan, a soul of General Affairs whom people look up to.
It's not me...
I had a phone call from Osawa, the General Affairs boss.
About the family tours during the festival.
Follow the the instructions given by General Affairs.
- Huh? Me? - Yup.
Each department delegates one person, right?
Understood.
Counting on you.
What the hell are you doing!?
You still didn't sent thanks to Abeyama Appliances?
I kept receiving phone calls asking if it was delivered.
When I got it yesterday before noon,
I sent the letter of thanks, it will be delivered tomorrow.
Phoning, texting, or saying thanks is quicker!
Totally useless... geez.
I thought it would be better to write an actual letter of thanks.
It's too late, now it's meaningless!
Enough!
Preparing the lantern dance during your busy schedule,
I am sorry I assigned you such a difficult task!
I am terribly sorry.
It's a nice place.
Yoshii-san, you didn't want General Affairs,
and you got troublesome guys and awful situations. This is your welcoming party.
Is it sexual harassment, or power hara...
I don't have power, though.
It's okay.
You just recovered from a long illness, is drinking alcohol okay?
In moderation, yes.
If you had sent today's thank you letter by e-mail,
the Chief would have yelled at you.
"Idiot! You sent it by e-mail!?"
"You're old enough to know that's not the way to do it!"
I'm a sandbag.
Why are you bullied so much?...
In the company, those with ability may become frustrated.
It's not just what you know, but who you know that advances you up the corporate ladder.
It all comes down to luck. Nothing can be done about it.
That's why the Chief is frustrated and ends up taking it out on the employees.
So why didn't you quit the company?
There were times when that was the only choice,
I was balancing on the brink of life and death, and each time, I persevered.
People gain from just being alive.
I gain a lot.
And somehow, the Chief, Deputy Chief of harassment,
and even my son, who doesn't listen to me, they became interesting.
And the frustration?
Nothing. Because of what I gain.
Here's the entrance.
We will dance the Bon-odori later, please participate.
Welcome!
I'm tired.
- And the balloons? - Ikawa-kun takes care of these.
Wait-wait a second.
Here. Oh, you caught one! Congratulations!
During the dance, the microphone stand will go around here.
You're good!
General Affairs Deputy Section Chief
Sada Koichi (36)
Wait a second.
Cold! It's cold!
Not the face, stop... Why only the face...?
Thanks for your work.
Dear, dear.
- You came! - Yeah.
My wife.
She's so young!
My husband is always under your care.
And we are always under his care.
Not at all. Here, it's nothing fancy...
- Thank you for doing this. - Not a problem.
From now on too, please regard us kindly.
You are all very welcome to visit us one day.
Takayama will cook something delicious for us with the herbs he grew, right?
Boss must be so kind at home too, huh.
Very.
- That's all from me. - Be careful.
If you excuse me.
Get out of the way, auntie! And you too!
Auntie?
Sis, here.
Haaaaa... Kids made it clear, didn't they?
Aunties and sisters were confirmed in a moment, huh.
Just joooking.
I was told to be a guide so it couldn't be helped, but events like this are troublesome...
Looking forward to work with you.
I dragged my wife and kid along.
You don't have anything else to do in General Affairs, huh?
We're quite busy.
It's the job of General Affairs to help families have a nice time together.
Is that so.
Sorry!
- Hey, Sayaka! - It's fine, it's fine.
I got soaked pretty much.
Here's the payback!
Me too!
Auntie, splash me with water!
Auntie?
Sorry.
This is a free fansub. Please do not stream, sell, or claim as yours.
Nakazato-san, you're not that entertained during the Super Bowl,
Would you swap with me for something without water?
Cold is an auntie's arch enemy. Just joooking.
Thanks for your concern.
You're young, you know.
It's just something's not right when your clothes resemble my daughter's.
That's a parent's concern.
Takahashi-san, we're going for lunch earlier than planned, could you go change?
Y-yes.
Let's go.
Okay.
Isn't it bad?
What, me?
Please tell me. I'll correct myself.
What's not right about me?
Nothing really.
Your laugh earlier was about the same, right?
I'll fix it. What is it?
No, nothing!
So why were you laughing? What am I lacking?
What do I lack?
I laughed because it was just awkward...
If you were so hurt by this, I'm sorry.
A temporary worker like me would never laugh at full-time employees.
I get it. So you were laughing to clear the air.
I, for one, always thought there's something wrong about you.
I thought how I don't want to get older like you did.
You keep wearing mini-skirts and artificially make yourself younger,
but it shows with your face, even though you have good intentions.
Ordinary middle-aged woman don't say stuff like this.
I didn't do anything wrong.
Just as your are, huh?
Seriously lacking women are all middle-aged, "all natural" and lazy.
Not thinking about clothes or fitness,
visible hairline, double chin, fat belly.
"I like natural," don't give me that crap!
This is laziness. The most lacking grandma.
That's who I am.
If that's the case, I'll tell you, even if I get fired for saying it.
Lacking woman don't hide her age.
She doesn't hide it because she's extremely confident that you can't tell.
That's simply wrong. You can tell! This says age 47!
She is so confident she tries to make herself look younger.
That's lacking.
Hey! Why are you slacking off? Stop fighting over trivial matters!
Today's big event is one our department cannot fail!
I am sorry.
- But... - Please fire me, Chief!
Don't decide it on the spur of the moment,
make the decision when you're calm.
It's just like she said. Go back immediately.
This word wasn't in use in the past...
Maybe it's because aged women started acting like young ones.
My mom's generation would not fight the signs of aging.
Youth was treasured more than anything then.
Youth and appraisal, somehow.
I'm not in a position to say it,
but because Nakazato san is unmarried, I feel like telling you this.
A person like you, with a family, with a child...
- Nothing's wrong? - Exactly.
You don't need to overdo it.
You already have a husband and a child.
Then, I'll introduce you to my husband and kid who I'm grateful for.
Okay.
Here, you did it!
Mama came!
This is our new employee, Yoshii Emiri-san.
Husband Naoya and daughter Maiko, 6 years old.
- Nice to meet you. - Good morning!
Nice to meet you too.
Mama, we're going back together?
Mama has to help to clean up later, so I can't.
We'll do it.
Maiko-chan, can you wait until 5 pm? You can go back together then.
You'll wait somewhere while drinking tea.
Okay, okay.
The Chief should not abandon the workplace.
You're right.
Yoshii-san, the guided tour is about to start.
Coming.
- We're here. - Please come in!
Come in slowly!
Here's where your fathers work.
It's a Textile department. I work here too.
Today, that is, on Saturdays, we have the day off,
we sit there like this and contact people abroad.
Dad!
Don't go! Dad's in the middle of work!
It's okay. Go to your fathers!
- Yay! - Sorry. Wait!
- Papa! - You came, Kouta! Here.
You work in a great place.
- It's amazing, dad! - It is, right?
You wanted to work in Textiles, huh?
Yes. But General Affairs is interesting.
Do you have free time?
- We're busy! - This again...
You can tell me, I won't tell anyone.
- It's true. - Is it?
I'm dead tired because of the festival.
You still have things to clean up? Everyone went home so quickly.
To their families?
Such bad guys!
Today, the young one told me that I don't lack anything because I have my family.
I think it's because of the time spent outside my family.
A household does not make a woman beautiful.
Women without husbands and households, the ones who do their best to be pretty only for themselves are the ones lacking the most.
How about me? Can I be confident?
Can I?
I wouldn't look at a women over 25, and yet I'm with you, aren't I?
Thanks for your hard work... With this, it's over?
Yes.
A 22-year-old holding a broomstick looks like Cinderella.
A 47-year-old, though...
...looks like a grandma who's about to fly on it.
Just joooking.
I am seriously filing a complaint to the union.
- And that is a natural- - You stay quiet!
This joke didn't go through, huh...
We're throwing an afterparty, everyone please be present!
It's Takayama.
Yes, I'm the General Affairs department boss.
What happened?
Section Chief Hoshina from Textiles is coming.
Hoshina?
What...?
I'm sorry to make you wait.
I also received a call from Masuda's wife.
- If you excuse me. - Yoshii-san...
Did something happen?
Do you know Masuda-kun from the second Textiles? He did the tour.
Yes.
I received a sudden call from his wife.
She said that her husband and a person named Yoshii...
... are having an affair. - WHAT?
I met him for the first time yesterday.
Yeah.
I am sorry she even bothered you, Chief.
I haven't talked to Masuda yet,
but I believe she is not wrong.
I'm angry.
You didn't do anything, I get it, but the accusation is your fault too.
No, Yoshii-san didn't do anything wrong.
To be honest, his wife is 8 years older,
he was happy in his marriage at first, but for young guys like us,
it became some sort of a complex...
Although he wanted to get married and she's confident...
Being in her forties with a husband in his mid-30s, she didn't feel comfortable about it.
This may be the case.
Even so, since Yoshii's not at fault, can you please clear things up with Masuda?
Understood.
He doesn't seem to have anyone on the side.
I wouldn't be so sure.
He might be hiding his affair well, you know.
They may secretly meet at some hotel, or kiss on the street...
Alcohol, women, money...
One of these may end a salaryman's life.
- This, and harrasment. - Yes.
Anyway, don't make the wife do anything more.
Understood.
Oopsie.
I'm sorry, Yoshii-san. Don't worry.
- Thanks for your hard work. - Thanks!
Excuse us for leaving before you.
Stay for a while!
- I have urgent business that I have to attend. - So do I.
Stay long enough for a toast...?!
I'll disappear while riding a broomstick.
- Yuck! - What is it?
No, no, no... Yoshii-san stays!
There will be no women until Chief Osawa comes back,
Just for a while. Sit, please.
And that's all from me.
- You're going back? - Go, go!
Being around such troublesome guy will make beer bad!
- I'm awful too. - If you excuse me.
- Bye! - Thanks for your hard work!
Shall we make a toast?
-Thanks for today. - Thanks for your hard work.
Thanks for your hard work!
Section Chief moves well...
she went from place to place wearing the mask.
Ave Maria - a wordplay on her name: Abe Maria
And she helped to ease the conflict between Nakazato and Ave Maria.
What? A conflict?
I mean, lacking women, not lacking women...
- Right? Yoshii-san. - I don't really know.
But there are lacking men too nowadays.
Even though they grow older, they wear clothes from the past and exercise.
There are!
It's hard to hear you're "lacking".
People trying to look younger are miserable.
It's because we're here. You won't say it directly.
You can't say directly they're lacking something.
I don't know.
I think Osawa's lacking.
I'll say it 'cause it's just us, but the mask didn't suit Section Chief the most.
The mask was a part of the job!
I also think that the Chief, compared to Nakazato and Abe Maria, lacks the most.
When it's clearly visible you distinguish yourself from others, it's lacking.
But in the end you're not that different from others?
That's just sad.
- She does her best. - It looks like it.
I discovered when the lack caused by the age is visible.
What do you mean?
You know the type of mask you'd wear when having a cold?
When you can't see the wrinkles around eyes in an adult woman, she's trying too hard.
That's good!
When that happens, it's the end.
Is the meeting over?
People from our department are still here.
You said I'm lacking.
I didn't. It wasn't me.
So why did you laugh?
It wasn't about you.
What do I lack? Tell me, I'll fix it.
Where?
You hid behind a cover and made fun of me in revenge.
- I would be very much indebted if you tell me. - I laughed about...
When I interfered during Nakazato-san and Maria-san's argument,
you laughed to yourself, didn't you?
You said I didn't lack the most.
That I was blessed.
You let me think I have nothing to do with "lacking".
You said things like "people with families are different!"
Tell me, what is the most humiliating thing about the auntie like me?
What do I lack?
I'll fix it, just tell me, from a young person's perspective.
You absolutely do not lack anything!
If you excuse me.
Our firm had a phone call from a certain older woman,
saying her husband and Yoshii are having an affair.
But that was over the phone... there are wives that would suddenly come and yell.
Being in an affair... I don't think women start it.
The Section Chief is late.
Sorry, I...
She probably won't make it today. Sorry!
It's probably because I'm just a jock, but...
I don't like to be scolded by a woman. Sorry!
Even though you're young, you have no mercy for discrimination!
Sorry.
But, isn't it true? Isn't being scolded by a superior woman worse than being scolded by a male subordinate?
Because the effort and confidence can be seen.
This is a thing that absolutely can't leave this room.
General Affairs is a place where shining women wave the flag.
Age and experience have nothing to say. You see a woman, you rise to attention.
- Understood. - There was whiskey around?
I am terribly sorry, but I'll...
No, you're staying longer, right?
I'll make it just in time to pick up my kid from kindergarten.
- Sorry.. - Go, go!
You'll be at peace with your wife and household.
- Sorry. Goodbye then! - Thanks for your work.
Thanks for your hard work!
And this, you know... something's off.
Now raising a child goes to its limits.
Suddenly it requires being late for work or leaving earlier.
Raising a child requires both the husband and the wife.
What Sada-san does, is a given.
Seriously though, it shouldn't have been!
Suddenly taking a day off, or leaving earlier...
That sounds like paternal harassment here, Chief.
- Ah! - Right. Ah!
I don't want to hear it from you.
They are the ones not doing it!
Which one is appropriate for my age?
This one, too much?
Yeah.
So this one?
Yup.
Do I lack something?
Itai first and foremost means "it hurts", hence the next comment.
What, are you hurt?
If you're in pain, you should see a doctor.
The Mematoi I'm researching now, you know,
It's similar to a really small fly.
It collects the tears of other animals, it's interesting...
Good morning.
I've been waiting for you to clear up a misunderstanding.
- Good morning. - Hello.
The festival was a success, right? I heard you wore masks.
Nice, this Teitou-chan. Whose idea was it?
Our Yoshii-san.
- Osawa-san, you come in too. - Yes.
- Check the typography. - Okay.
Can you confirm this?
Where were you this morning?
Excuse me?
Come...
Excuse me...
I am Masuda's wife.
I called you yesterday, but I'd like to talk to you now.
Yes.
He didn't come back home. Is he at your place?
It was only yesterday at the festival did I learn his name.
You won't fool a wife's intuition.
I asked the Chief of the Department because I want Masuda back.
This is an embarrasing matter, that's why called.
You!
I am sorry to bother you all from General Affairs when you have nothing to do with it.
Why did you come to the company?
It's a spousal problem, don't drag them into this!
- Any other method... - You're 40 and behave like this?
Troubling the firm, embarrasing me...
I often don't go home, don't you get it?
- But... - You try to look younger than your age
You're lacking.
Don't come here, you embarrass me.
Looking all young... You're 40, look like one!
I've had it, geeez....
I'll fix it. Where do I lack?
What is the most humiliating thing about the auntie like me?
The Section Chief lacks something.
When it's clearly visible you distinguish yourself from others, it's lacking.
You lack. Behave more like 40-year-old, geez.
Tell me? Where do I lack?
Idiots...
I'll fight you tooth and nail!
Like I thought, some young girl...
Shut up! I'm dating someone.
I'd prefer her a thousand times more than you.
You are the one who lacks.
There she goes.
You are a mindless, middle-aged idiot.
That's why you won't date anyone but similarly minded stupid young women.
Men who say they like only young women are idiots, 100%.
- To say 100 percent... - 100 PERCENT.
Middle-aged men who date only young women are empty-headed.
Yes.
Masuda-san, any young girl with half a brain would go if she was invited.
Your husband is... popular.
It's not about that.
When a young woman agrees to go for a dinner with an older guy
it's because there'll be delicious food.
That's all. She'll go home after eating.
Masuda-san, please invite me anytime.
- I like Italian cuisine. - Yoshii-san!
An older man attracting young stupid women with delicious food and a feeling of popularity
is the most lacking.
I've never seen a bigger idiot who would make fun of General Affairs.
I'm breaking up.
Please wait.
You shouldn't decide on the spur of the moment. Give your answer tomorrow.
Age Harassment Episode 2
Takei Emi
Inamori Izumi
Seto Koji
Kaname Jun
Ohkura Koji
and others