TOKYO -- The Tokyo District Court decided on Oct. 23 that a man working at Sagawa Express Co. must pay 220,000 yen (about $1,440) to a younger female coworker for harassment.

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The court said the man, in his 40s, called the woman by her surname with "chan" at the end, which is usually used for children or close friends, not for coworkers. He also made comments about her body, saying things like, "You have such a great figure while I'm so skinny," and sometimes talked about underwear. The judge said these actions were harassment.

The woman became depressed and took time off work. The court said the man's words and actions made her feel bad, even if he wanted to be friendly.

The man was like a supervisor at work, so his actions were even more serious. The woman first asked for about 5.5 million yen (about $36,000) in damages. She also sued Sagawa Express. The company agreed to pay her 700,000 yen (about $4,600) and promised to keep a healthy work environment.

(Japanese original by Kumiko Yasumoto, Tokyo City News Department)

Vocabulary

harassment: saying or doing things that make someone feel bad or uncomfortable

depressed: a strong feeling of sadness that can make it hard to work or enjoy life

damages: money paid for harm or injury

supervisor: a person who manages or leads other workers