Konami employee sues for sexual discrimination
by Alexander Sliwinski 
{ Jun 19th 2009 at 11:59PM }
Sekiguchi's attorneys claim that, in pre-trial meetings, Konami stated her position was changed in consideration of creating a better child-rearing environment. Sekiguchi said, "Being forced to lessen your career to raise a child is sexual discrimination." Sekiguchi's previous position had her traveling all over the world to acquire licensing deals, in particular for the Winning Eleven series. Konami had "no comment." We're not well versed in Japanese laws regarding maternity leave. But, if you are, feel free to chime in down in the comments.
[Via Kotaku, Andriasang]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Ignatius @ Jun 20th 2009 12:05AM
Sounds like they were just trying to find a way to keep cutting wages.
Manly Mcbeefington (Mr. ESC) @ Jun 20th 2009 1:14AM
And they didn't fired the guys in charge of Rock Revolution because?
Manly Mcbeefington (Mr. ESC) @ Jun 20th 2009 1:15AM
*fire
fire,fire is cool huh huh.
Damian @ Jun 20th 2009 7:49AM
Come on joystiq, April Fools was a while back, we all know women cant make video games.
Ignatius @ Jun 20th 2009 10:49AM
Well, sexist comments aside, she was actually involved in licensing deals, to bring games to other countries.
Wiizer @ Jun 20th 2009 12:16AM
What does it matter about the legality of it?
Why would you do that to someone who has been a dedicated employee to your company?
Wes @ Jun 20th 2009 12:48AM
I think its because in Life there are things more important than how much money you make. Just small things like your children, family and your mental or physical health/wellbeing. Most people without families and a vast majority with families whom live in a commercial pro-consumerism society seem to miss this point. Providing for a family, important.
Spending 80% of your time out of the country while your child remains at home, alone being watched by ....? [Not her parents]. This is a pretty clear-cut case of descrimination but sometimes people need to be told kindly, you have a family and family should be your #1 concern. Or at least be a higher concern than work.
Roto13 @ Jun 20th 2009 12:52AM
That's totally not Konami's decision to make. And how do you know the child wouldn't be watched by one of its parents (its father) while it's mother was gone?
PR0F3TA @ Jun 20th 2009 1:05AM
lol @ Wes...
if you are their defense attorney then you can might as well pay her now then with that load of crock.
how is your salary gonna reflect some hidden unknowing principal that the company has.
as pre-law, i'd play the "economy downsizing" excuse.... but in this economy who really knows.
BigD145 @ Jun 20th 2009 1:30PM
All mothers need a wage decrease when they make a new mouth to feed. Every business knows that.
Wes @ Jun 20th 2009 6:11PM
"And how do you know the child wouldn't be watched by one of its parents (its father) while it's mother was gone?"
Its Japan. Its almost entirely unheard of Roto13 of a woman working while the man stays at home to look after the child. Japan's one of the most woman-repressive societies there is. Sure its getting better, but, it would be a huuuuge shame to have a woman be the sole income earner of the family.
There are still a lot of really backwards things in Japan like 'Men don't cook'. When in a relationship, the though of Japanese society is still that Japanese men don't cook. Most will refuse to cook even if they are chefs as its a woman's job/responsibilitiy.
Seriously though, despite your comment about there may be a father at home, that doesn't neglect the original point that families should come first. Family is more important than money. Workaholics exist and its not a paricularly productive for your children, yourself or your family's wellbeing. Kids don't raise themselves.
Drew -- PS360: uphillbothways @ Jun 22nd 2009 12:00PM
Sackboy looks displeased.
playwhutyalike @ Jun 20th 2009 12:21AM
Can you show me on this NES controller where he touched you?
Yes. Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right, B, A, Start.
Longhorn of Myon [PSN: MariusElijah] @ Jun 20th 2009 12:25AM
sexual discrimination not harassment
playwhutyalike @ Jun 20th 2009 12:54AM
Wow, didn't realize everybody had their panties in a bunch.
PR0F3TA @ Jun 20th 2009 12:58AM
wow bro +1 from me... how can ppl downvote a video game joke. how many are there anyways.
The Baron @ Jun 20th 2009 9:24AM
How can people upvote a rape joke from someone who didn't even read the article?
playwhutyalike @ Jun 20th 2009 11:27AM
I read the article, but the only thing I could think of was the ol' Konami code. Sorry, I tried to brighten everyone's day.
Think it's time to start trolling like that broke-ass loser (we all know who I'm talking about) who never gets the banhammer. I'm going to earn that downvote, baby!
Jon2309 @ Jun 20th 2009 10:58PM
Well I gave you a +1 cause I found it funny. Go me for not being a heavy hearted douche with their finger on the -1 button.
devilsei @ Jun 20th 2009 12:24AM
Okay, I clicked on this expecting this chick was just complaining because she wasn't being paid, or was being hit on at the job by other employees or something, or maybe denied the boss some "favor" so he got back at her by doing something (that last bit is a far, far stretch, and really just threw it in just cause). Heck, I even thought she was getting fired because she had a kid after just reading a bit.
But seriously? She is b****ing that now she has to stay in japan and care for her kid, while keeping what most likely is still a well-paying job. How much did she used to make? Cause if she was making (just an example) 30k, now she's only making 28k, oh boo frackin hoo.
Now don't quote me, but I'm sure it ain't safe to bring your baby all over the world on airplanes, and the fact she was either expecting that, or just leaving the baby with someone else, just shows a bit of bad parenting if you ask me.
siraru @ Jun 20th 2009 12:31AM
In Japan, $2,048 is a pretty big deal.
Also, it's pretty common for japanese to look down upon women in many ways.
They didn't even gave her the chance to try her old job again.
Uncontrol @ Jun 20th 2009 12:32AM
Learn to read, idiot. $2080 a MONTH.
Shiaoran @ Jun 20th 2009 12:32AM
I agree 100%, I couldn't have put it in better words.
Uncontrol @ Jun 20th 2009 12:34AM
Also, what are you talking about, "has to stay in Japan?" Were we reading the same fucking article?
This is such an obvious case of sexual discrimination it's appalling.
F1: Basu Gasu Bakuhatsu @ Jun 20th 2009 12:38AM
@siraru
Yes but things have been improving for the average Japanese women for awhile.
As Japan adopts western ideals more and more women in the workplace have been able to acquire huge positions. It isn't as close to U.S. standards but it's still better than what it used to be 10 years back.
Jeffrey Haywood @ Jun 20th 2009 12:39AM
i think what hes trying to say is that she already makes a lot of money she should have nothing to complain about, but i would be pissed if i was that girl
devilsei @ Jun 20th 2009 1:19AM
Uncontrol, how about you learn to read a little before responding.
I said "IF" in my statement, not going to bother explaining what uses that has in the English language since you should already know. I also said that my numbers were just an example. Instead of 30k, now its only 28k. I shouldn't have to state per month as that should be obvious since we are reading the same article. Which brings me to the next thing.
Domestic. I hope you know what that word is, but if not, here's a bit of a lesson.
Domestic is an adjective, which can mean "of the home or family ". They said a domestic position, which clearly means she'll be staying in japan (and most likely close to, if not in her home) for it, and won't have to travel to complete any part of it.
As for the people who don't really understand the kind of harm this could have on a baby, no use explaining it if you lack the common sense to think of it yourself.
devilsei @ Jun 20th 2009 1:20AM
Now, I'm not saying she has no reason to be angry, but if she is worried more about her job than her kid, that is just horrid parenting, and shouldn't of even had the baby in the first place.
Uncontrol @ Jun 20th 2009 1:25AM
The difference between $2000 less a year and $2000 less a month is a big deal. It is not Konami's decision how this woman is to raise her child. It is hers.
devilsei @ Jun 20th 2009 1:33AM
True, but we don't know how much she is paid per month, so honestly, it could be a rather large change, or a small one. So you can't just assume its a huge shift. that 2k is roughly 12k less per year. And if she made 10k a month, that would be 120k, with that 12k out, thats only 108k. 10% decrease, sounds painful, but its nothing canceling a few unnecessary things would fix. At least in NA terms. Now if she only made about 70-80k, yea, that 12k reduction would sting like hell.
placebo @ Jun 20th 2009 8:40AM
$2,080 * 12 = $24,960 L2Maths
Bahamett @ Jun 20th 2009 9:06AM
@Devilsei
I don't see how you can make a correlation between having a domestic job and bad parenting.
How do you know that the father isn't stay at home dad? You know parenting normaly involves more than one parent.
The assumptipons you make are absurd. Maybe you should work for Konami, you seem to already have a lot in common with them.
Matt Rix @ Jun 20th 2009 12:30PM
devilsei you fail at math and logic. Seriously, 24k per year is a ton of money, it's obviously enough for it to be a big deal to her. And everyone here except for Bahamett seems to be assuming she's a single parent, which was never said or even implied. The husband can stay home and look after the kid while she's away.
Think about it: this would never happen to a man when he had a kid, why should it be any different for a woman?
RogueFace @ Jun 20th 2009 1:19PM
Everybody is missing the point. It's not whether or not she *should* take a domestic job so she can see her child periodically. And it's not about how much money she made before and is making now. Maybe she was making 100k a month before and now she's only making 98k, it doesn't matter. The entire point is that it is not, in any way, Konami's decision whether she has a domestic job or one that requires a ton of travel. It is not Konami's place to tell her that she should stay in town to be with her child. And it's not Konami's place to tell her what kind of mother to be.
Now, I'm assuming that Japan's laws on the matter are similar to ours, or I don't think she'd be suing. Konami's job in this situation was to keep her in the same position or a similar position with the same pay once she came back. If she wants to leave her kid with someone else while she flies around the world for her job, it might make her a bad parent, it might not, but either way, it is her decision. And that, devilsei, is what she is bitching about, whether or not she knows it.
Reuben @ Jun 20th 2009 1:26PM
Are you telling me that if you boss docked $2000 from your salary you would say to yourself "oh, well, that's just fine!" I don't understand how anyone can be okay with this clear cut case of discrimination, and I can't believe that anyone would be okay with it happening to them.
Seriously, you have to be joking.
Jake B @ Jun 20th 2009 3:43PM
Her problem. She is the one that had to go out and get pregnant. Who wants a big ol' preggo shuffling around the office anyway. It probably pissed the old Konami dudes off. She should have gotten the hint from the wage decrease and committed Sepuku.
F1: Basu Gasu Bakuhatsu @ Jun 20th 2009 12:33AM
It looks like they were generally trying to help her in raising her kid. Not only that but it probably saved the company a little gold to.
Uncontrol @ Jun 20th 2009 12:34AM
if you actually believe konami cut her wage and demoted her out of concern for her child you are a gigantic idiot
F1: Basu Gasu Bakuhatsu @ Jun 20th 2009 12:40AM
No I don't think thats the full reason but it does give her more time to be with her kid.
Sure this whole thing is probably just to hide wadge cut's but it does benifit the child in quite a few ways.
I guess I only feel this way because I've always been a family type of guy.
Kodros @ Jun 20th 2009 1:31PM
"No I don't think thats the full reason but it does give her more time to be with her kid."
And how is this any buissness of Konami's?
Ghen @ Jun 20th 2009 5:04PM
For $2000 a month she could hire a babysitter. The point is, Konami didn't give her the choice.. they made it for her.
Frostybolts @ Jun 22nd 2009 2:44PM
You should get a job as a Japanese businessman
Premature ejaculation man @ Jun 20th 2009 12:39AM
So that little bit of savings that they got from cutting her wage is going to be lost in lawsuit costs and negative publicity.
SMRT MOVE
Jawmuncher @ Jun 20th 2009 12:43AM
The person should have sued for there being no MGS4 trophy patch announcement.
All of it was just MGO announcements WTH.
I like MGO and all but seriously why no use the MGS4 hitting greatest hits to their advantage?
Add a trophy patch the game is going to sell some more and these new people who buy it might just merge into playing MGO regularly its a win, win that I guess konami just can't see
MystileArmor @ Jun 20th 2009 1:00AM
What? I know it's late, but...
WTF ARE YOU SMOKING? I don't understand what you're saying or how it's relevant to this topic?
Longhorn of Myon [PSN: MariusElijah] @ Jun 20th 2009 1:10AM
Konami announce to have announcement all this week related to metal gear, many were expecting for a trophy patch,but mostly it was related to MGO, plus all of those "expansions" require the SCENE expansion, so it was all a huge disappointing week for MGS4 fans
MystileArmor @ Jun 20th 2009 1:15AM
Ok but what does that have to do with this chick getting screwed over?
Longhorn of Myon [PSN: MariusElijah] @ Jun 20th 2009 1:18AM
nothing but its related with Konami, i guess
GordoJones @ Jun 20th 2009 12:45AM
If she had just kept it in her pants, she wouldn't be having this problem.
Ian (Gamertag: MicroxiTheProxi) @ Jun 21st 2009 7:51PM
lol