Tecmo's Itagaki Gets Sexual Harassment Allegation

Author: by Brandon Boyer, Brandon Sheffield

A Japanese news site has reported that a former Tecmo employee filed for damages against eccentric producer Tomonobu Itagaki (Ninja Gaiden, Dead or Alive series) on sexual harassment charges dating back for the past 3 years. The report, from news site zakzak.com, says that the 31 year old employee is claiming 10 million yen damages ($85,000) for a series of harassment incidents that began in late 2003 and have continued in the following years. The charges were brought in September of this year, following her termination with the company. The defendant alleges that, upon repeatedly bringing the incidents to Tecmo's attention she was urged to dismiss the incidents, and that her charges didn't warrant a harassment suit. Following repeated dismissals and time lost from work due to "mental anguish," the defendant left her position with Tecmo and filed the charges. In a statement reprinted in the original article, she is quoted with saying, "The company (Tecmo) didn't do enough when I shared my story with them. I have no intention of accommodating them further." Itagaki, the famed producer of some of Tecmo's highest profile titles including the Ninja Gaiden and Dead Or Alive franchises, has denied any harassment charges, saying all of the incidents in question were consensual. Tecmo itself has reportedly only commented to say, "There's a difference of opinion regarding these matters, and we'll see what the trial reveals," though a recent demotion of Itagaki from from executive director/corporate officer simply to corporate officer might be seen by some as admission of wrongdoing.