A prominent all-female theater group in Japan has acknowledged that it holds itself accountable for the demise of a young actress who may have committed suicide due to excessive workload.
The 25-year-old’s family did not get any news on a compensation package from Takarazuka Revue executives, despite their apology for the “loss of life”.
In addition, Chairman Kenshi Koba announced his resignation.
Joining this well-known corporation in Japan is highly competitive.
It was founded in 1913 and has become a cult favorite in Japan thanks to its opulent takes on romantic musicals.
Aspiring young female dancers and vocalists compete fiercely for spots in the ensemble, which follows a strict hierarchy. The female actors, who frequently portray men, draw sizable crowds.
“We did not fully fulfill our duty of care for her safety, and it is undeniable that a strong psychological burden was placed on [the woman],” Mr. Koba stated during a press conference held at the revue’s base in the western city of Takarazuka.
“We deeply apologize for not being able to protect a precious member of your family,” he added, turning to face the family.
“I want to make sure we apologise and compensate them,” Mr. Koba stated in response to the family’s request for payment.
He was heard saying, “Unfortunately, we have not had the opportunity yet,” by state broadcaster NHK.
In order to make sure that something similar doesn’t happen again, the chairman and two other executives vowed new steps. It intends to drop from nine to eight weekly performances.
However, they claimed to be ignorant of the difficulties faced by the musical troupe’s youthful performers. They said in a statement that they were not aware of any staff shortages and that they had not received any complaints.
The actress, who spent six years working for the organization, is not being identified. Because suicide is still stigmatized in Japan, her family has made the decision to stay anonymous.
On September 30, her body was discovered in her Takarazuka condominium. According to police, she may have committed suicide.
The corporation hired an outside team, mostly made up of attorneys, to look into the circumstances surrounding the death. It did not corroborate any reports of harassment or bullying at the press conference.
However, it concluded that the lady was “undeniably burdened psychologically by the combination of long hours of activities and pressure from senior members.”
Her family is suing the business to get paid. According to the family’s attorney, the actress committed suicide last week due to “compromised mental and physical health” caused by her seniors’ bullying and overwork.
The attorney claimed that she was covered by an outsourcing agreement with the business and that her monthly overtime surpassed 277 hours, exceeding the government’s minimum need for worker pay. According to Takarazuka Revue, the amount is 118 hours each month.
Additionally, according to the woman’s family, she was burned two years ago when a senior member pressed a hair iron against her forehead. The business refuted this claim after it was published in a weekly magazine in February.
Her family said in a statement that the corporation “turned a blind eye while subjecting [the actress] to abnormal, excessively long working hours, leaving her extremely fatigued,” and that they expected an apology and acknowledgement of responsibility from the company and those they said had harmed their daughter.
The Asahi Shimbun claimed that investigators stated “we could not confirm (that it was intentional)” that a senior member of the troupe had used a hair iron to burn the 25-year-old’s forehead.