In December 2015, a sexual harassement incident allegedly occurred in SD3 on IUJ Campus.

The victim reported the incident to IUJ administration and management. An Investigation Committee was established to handle the incident and the case was closed. 

Several months after, on July 16th, an article on Asahi Shinbum revealed the possibility of abuse of power by the President Kimio Kase throughout the handling of this case. As the article and other information provided by involved parties suggests:

1. IUJ did not actively engage the police, or assisted the victim in engaging the police under the pretension of protecting the victim. Quite contrary, the victim was advised against doing so. This act alone if proven can constitute an act of "obstruction of justice".

2. The President imposed a victim-blaming attitude towards the Investigation Committee, which was established as a neutral and independent body to handle the case.

3. The President repeatedly intervened in the conduct of the Committee through personal interviews with involved parties and giving explicit instructions to the Committee, thus resulting in the resignation of the Committee Chairman.

4. All students received what could be interpreted as warning against discussing the case with the consequence of expulsion.

5. When the possibility of legal action taken from the victim's side was presented, the President insinuated staff members to make the police take side with IUJ.

The result of the case was the suspect only received 3-month suspension from IUJ. Even though his scholarship was cut, he could still come back to IUJ with his own money. The victim never received any apology either from the suspect for his action.

We have gathered here all the information that could support the claim from the news article. We therefore have reasons to believe in the article's claims. If these claims are indeed correct, they demonstrate a management culture that with incompetence, lacks ethical standards, and dominence of old-fashion mentality of victim-blaming and cover-up, all of which should not be present in an educational institution claiming to produce world leaders.

Evidence of victim-blaming and cover-up by President Kimio Kaze

Re-investigation and analysis by GSIR Falculty

Recording of meeting between Committee member and the victim

Recording of the Committee's hearing

This petition thus demands the following from IUJ:

1. If the victim in this case expresses consent, IUJ should immediately report the case the police. It is then up to the police to proceed. In future, IUJ must refer to the police any alleged criminal conduct on its premise and disclose the relevant information in a transparent manner. However, if the victim independently and under no influence decide not to involve the police, IUJ must fully respect and provide all support requested;

2. A new independent committee should be formed to assess the previous committee's procedings against allegations of abuse of power and attempt of cover-up. Those who are implicated in mishandling of the case to be excluded from this new committee;

3. The previous investigation committee's decision should be reassessed by the new committee with proper process, justice, and transparency, without any interference. Should the new committee's conclusion be different than that of the old one, or mishandling of case, or abuse of power be proved IUJ shall make necessary amendments to the involved parties. Individuals proven responsible for such misconduct to be held responsible;

4. Procedures should be put in place to prevent and probably investigate future allegations of sexual and other harassment. These should include as a minimum an independent investigation committee, support mechanisms, encouraging alleged victims to report cases to the police.

Please sign this petition if you agree with a transparent management system and wish to contribute to make a positive change to IUJ that would benefit not only current but also future students!