Tecmo rebuffs sex harassment claims

Company says allegations against Itagaki were bogus; DOA producer to countersue, will seek damages for "defamation."

The Dead or Alive fighting franchise has been criticised by some as using sex to sell its games. Spin-off game series Dead or Alive Xtreme takes it a step further, with one of the characters diving naked into the ocean in the opening sequence of its Beach Volleyball edition, and Dead or Alive Xtreme 2 features unlockable pole-dancing scenes.

Art imitated life earlier this year when DOA publisher Tecmo hit the headlines after the games' producer, Tomonobu Itagaki, was accused by a former coworker of sexual harassment. The woman claimed that Itagaki had made a series of unwanted advances. She said that on one occasion, the high-profile producer locked her in a conference room and at other times groped her and forcibly kissed her.

The Tokyo-based company this week issued a statement categorically denying the allegations. It said, "The alleged sexual harassment of the former employee by Itagaki never took place, and Tecmo did not issue an unjustified notice of dismissal to the former employee."

The statement also attacked the media for its "one-sided" coverage of the event and stated that Itagaki believes he has been defamed by the "false allegations."

The company claims that it immediately launched an investigation after the employee claimed Itagaki harassed her, which was under way for one month and was performed in "the most strict and impartial manner." The result of the investigation, it said, was to conclude that the allegations in question were a result of the former employee's desire "to vent frustrations over her own personal affairs, and not indicative of sexual harassment."

The statement went on to say that Itagaki and the unnamed former employee, as well as others, "mingled personal affairs with their corporate responsibilities," and as a result of this "unnecessary confusion" in the workplace, both were demoted and had their salaries reduced. Tecmo also claims that it did not force the employee to leave the company by firing her but that she put in a voluntary resignation.

Itagaki and Tecmo's "reputation and goodwill" have been damaged, claims Tecmo, and because of this, Itagaki plans to launch a countersuit against the woman for damages.

230 Comments

  • Beawolf

    Posted Jun 3, 2008 4:51 pm PT

    @ Astarsis

    First of all I doubt you nor anyone except for the woman and Itagaki know what really happend. Secondly this is not a bad move on his part for if he truly was innocent (for all we know he was and some how she got mad at him and wanted money therefore making false accusations) then he has the right to fire back on her. However if he is richer then her and she is poor then that does suck, and he shouldn't do it but some kind of action would need to be taked against a person the permanately damages ones reputation with false information. However i greatly disagree with what you said about tecmo it seemed like the investigated it but you are saying they did a bad job of it? How would you handle it? Either way this is a he said she said agruement where the only finite loser is the one being accused of sexual harrasment because that individual has more to lose then just his job... His reputation and in japan that is a BIG THING!!!!! Her on the other hand not so much to lose except for now her money (which if she is not as rich as itagaki) SUCKS!!!! Especially if she was telling the truth. Basically what i'm saying is you can't pick a said because this is a dumb he said she said agruement where their is no solid proof. Sure one can be bias towards one story or the other but that does not mean it is correct. In the end it's a messed up story where neither one of them should get what they want. THE END!!!!

  • Astarsis

    Posted Sep 13, 2007 12:28 pm PT

    Wow ! Tecmo is reaching an all time low in behavior !

    A rich guy suing a woman that he harrassed ? What sort of crap is that ! Even if the allegation were false, this is the oposite of chivalry and bushido ! Just let the judge dismiss the case, that will clear up his name.

    But suing back is every bit as bad as confessing he's guilty and the judge was corrupt (paid)

    I mean, why else sue the girl, except to ruin her, make sure she can't fight back, make sure future molested women shut up ?

    Itagaki, you're making a really bad move here ! And I still admire you as a great programer... but well... this behavior is vey disapointing

  • black_chewbacca

    Posted Feb 8, 2007 10:11 pm PT

    Woa, kavadias1981: Calm down, no reason to get angry over a comment, pointless really. Just ignore it, and for the record: I agree with him.

  • black_chewbacca

    Posted Feb 8, 2007 10:08 pm PT

    Hey... The first part was legitimate, but the second...

  • jacko_goku69

    Posted Jan 13, 2007 11:09 pm PT

    anyone that plays this are just horny ****s that cant get girls

  • crofts5

    Posted Dec 3, 2006 4:50 am PT

    If they were no sexuality in games , Legendary vixens like lara crofts and bloodrayne would never exist and all games would have little bunnies that are well covered hopping around a field and finding little flowers .

  • Chikikage

    Posted Dec 2, 2006 10:47 pm PT

    I knew this was going to happen sonner or later what a waste of time and i hope shes happy for herself...it sadens me sice DOA is my fav game i hope itagaki takes all her money!!!

  • kavadias1981

    Posted Nov 28, 2006 10:37 am PT

    Benny_a
    Haha, as usual. Women like to suck every penny out of men, whit false acusations. 90% of this crap is lies. In recent years the sexulity been abused by all the "make rich in a week" women.

    I say: I would like to sit you in a room of women who have been mentally scarred by this sort of horrifying incident. You absolutely disgust me with this sort of comment. I bet your mother is very proud of you.

  • Benny_a

    Posted Nov 28, 2006 4:49 am PT

    Anyway, SEX is sells! it not wrong to make money on sex, i hate all the ppl who trying to be Politically correct, because such thing is Nonexistent, its just plain pure hypocrisy,! if i want to sell a car, and i now that if i put a naked girl to advertise it, and get 50% chance to sell, ill do it! if i hate black, i don't need to keep it inside, if i think that most of the women will use a chance to suck some money from men, ill say it. So if you think about this, but really just think: Politically Correct=hypocrisy,
    Nobody is saying what he really thinks, and it WRONG.

  • Benny_a

    Posted Nov 28, 2006 4:38 am PT

    Haha, as usual. Women like to suck every penny out of men, whit false acusations. 90% of this crap is lies. In recent years the sexulity been abused by all the "make rich in a week" women.

  • Max_Hydrogen

    Posted Nov 27, 2006 6:53 pm PT

    A pervert is you.

  • Timstuff

    Posted Nov 27, 2006 12:22 pm PT

    I'm sick of people saying "Since in America women falsely accuse men of harassment all the time, it's obviously exactly the same in Japan." The truth is that in Japan these types of suits seldom happen since women are often under too much pressure to not do it, and also because Japan's rampant sexism problems mean that the probability of winning is not that high.

    You people need to put you fanboy bias aside and accept that maybe your hero isn't as great as you make him out to be.

  • zicky

    Posted Nov 27, 2006 11:53 am PT

    the western lifestyle is the that can be blamed, where did the saying " sex sells" camoal toe patch for the voly ball editon

  • stu576

    Posted Nov 27, 2006 11:32 am PT

    this isnt really good well only for pervs

  • nobeaner

    Posted Nov 27, 2006 11:16 am PT

    Thank god for careless perverts. Otherwise the rest of us closet pervs wouldn't have any example of what NOT to do.

  • mskittykat

    Posted Nov 27, 2006 10:55 am PT

    So, If I understand this correctly...something actually DID take place and some where along the lines the nameless accusser didn't get what she wanted, became upset, and decided to press charges as a way to get back at the producer..... -- Am I reading this right? That's the basic gist of what I'm reading. I don't know who did what or who's guilty of what, but I do know that women tend to take advantage of the sexual harrassment raquet when a situation doesn't go their way....I'm just saying, but then again who knows. Either way it's very unfortunate.

  • screamingdean

    Posted Nov 27, 2006 7:23 am PT

    In Japan woman do not go around making these kind of allegations often and things such as sexual harassment tend to be not spoken about. This confuses me - "The statement went on to say that Itagaki and the unnamed former employee, as well as others, "mingled personal affairs with their corporate responsibilities," and as a result of this "unnecessary confusion" in the workplace, were both demoted and had their salaries reduced. - This makes it sound as if Itagaki was demoted. Surely not. It's also true that in Japan affairs between work colleagues are frowned upon and can lead to dismissal.

    The whole thing is unpleasant anyway. DoA games are M rated in the US I believe. There's a reason for this. I'm as red blooded as any male but voluptuous physiques with pre-teen faces? That's just a little disturbing.

  • BlazetheDragon

    Posted Nov 27, 2006 6:20 am PT

    gamergoddess89 SAID....
    lol a perv he might be but a women wanting to make a buck is what i'm seeing i mean how could this guy not be the perfect guy to choose to file sexual harrasment charge on i like the DOA fighting games but comeon guys there are plenty of japanese sexual themed games that save you the whole trip of having to play the volleyball and getting you right down to bussiness......

    Well said.

  • kenerhai

    Posted Nov 27, 2006 5:41 am PT

    good, now stop making the DOA girls boobs bounce more realisticly (no that dosnt sound gay . .) and get to work on NInja Gaiden 2!!!!!! for chrisake

  • menmau

    Posted Nov 27, 2006 5:16 am PT

    You bet...

  • SlortaHauz

    Posted Nov 27, 2006 4:32 am PT

    A couple of people have said that tekken is the best fighter. To them I say "What the hell is wrong with you?"
    Tekken is totally teh crap. DOA is better but the best is a tie 'tween soul calibur and smash bros.

    So ner

  • mike04016

    Posted Nov 27, 2006 3:55 am PT

    Saw this one coming...

  • thefjk

    Posted Nov 27, 2006 2:50 am PT

    DOA has always been a sort of perverted game to be honest. I always use the girls. Anywho am sure Itagaki did all that stuff...

  • gibbie_420

    Posted Nov 26, 2006 11:56 pm PT

    I rented it... why? It's a dirty old man's game and I like it... even though it was more of a sims game this time =(

  • yoscar

    Posted Nov 26, 2006 10:05 pm PT

    "Itagaki and Tecmo's "reputation and goodwill" have been damaged."

    Itagaki's only reputation (in my opinion) was of being a prevert.

  • MadFaxer

    Posted Nov 26, 2006 9:12 pm PT

    I had one thought the whole time I was reading this....Boom-chicka-wah-wah

  • CheddarLimbo

    Posted Nov 26, 2006 8:55 pm PT

    I stopped reading this story after the first paragraph and went to youtube to see the pole dancing...

    *sigh* I'm such a pervert.

  • BlueFlameBat

    Posted Nov 26, 2006 8:21 pm PT

    Looks like Tecmo can't own up to their own mistakes when they get caught with their pants down.

  • The_HT

    Posted Nov 26, 2006 7:45 pm PT

    revenge - possible
    truth - possible
    plot to get money knowing that the games will make such an act seem plausible from the dude - possible

  • Wezker619

    Posted Nov 26, 2006 7:02 pm PT

    I love Itagaki. You scream out DoA and Ninja Gaiden everytime I see your name in the forums!

  • gamergoddess89

    Posted Nov 26, 2006 5:54 pm PT

    lol a perv he might be but a women wanting to make a buck is what i'm seeing i mean how could this guy not be the perfect guy to choose to file sexual harrasment charge on i like the DOA fighting games but comeon guys there are plenty of japanese sexual themed games that save you the whole trip of having to play the volleyball and getting you right down to bussiness

  • freshgman

    Posted Nov 26, 2006 5:37 pm PT

    waste of time in my opinion

  • gamer_girl15

    Posted Nov 26, 2006 5:06 pm PT

    A way to solve the problem: Make Extreme Beach Volleyball game aimed at us, featuring the hot guys diving naked into the ocean and playing volleyball

    I know they will never make one but I can dream can't I?

    In response to grey-flood's comment: So true but they're leaving out the other half of the population by only targeting males with this type of game. make a game for girl gamers plz!!

  • AL13NK1LL3R

    Posted Nov 26, 2006 4:54 pm PT

    "women, they always use the "ive been sexually assaulted!" routine to get back at someone they dont like. Most of the time, they are the ones who flirt and tease and then use it against the men!"

    that is soo true. and woman sue men for money like kobe from basketball

  • grey-flood

    Posted Nov 26, 2006 4:52 pm PT

    people need sex. and they give them!! what is the problem?!?!??!!!

  • trackmanep233

    Posted Nov 26, 2006 4:33 pm PT

    wow, why is this even worth putting as news. it just gives more publicity to those who want attention

  • dholmes19

    Posted Nov 26, 2006 3:51 pm PT

    women, they always use the "ive been sexually assaulted!" routine to get back at someone they dont like. Most of the time, they are the ones who flirt and tease and then use it against the men!

  • edgefilm2001

    Posted Nov 26, 2006 3:36 pm PT

    The guy who makes DOA sexually harassed someone? Shocker!

    I mean, have you seen this guy? He thinks he's the Mick Jagger of gaming! Or course is gonna grope the ladies! But yeah, she totally wanted it, and is just mad that he kicked her to the curb the next morning.

  • peeweeshift

    Posted Nov 26, 2006 3:25 pm PT

    whatever as long as he stll creates ng2 i'm happy

  • basiccoolguy

    Posted Nov 26, 2006 3:12 pm PT

    Blah Blah Blah He's rich you know she wnated it!

  • govinator07

    Posted Nov 26, 2006 2:55 pm PT

    Thats what im saying EvanO_O

    whatever makes it sell

  • EvanO_O

    Posted Nov 26, 2006 2:22 pm PT

    Whatever brings ninja gaiden 2 to the 360 table sooner!!! Hell, bring on Dead or alive 5!!!

  • ninja929

    Posted Nov 26, 2006 1:46 pm PT

    one word....Karma

  • xboxdudeman800

    Posted Nov 26, 2006 1:26 pm PT

    nice

  • plakman32

    Posted Nov 26, 2006 12:54 pm PT

    Somehow I am not surprised. This (Truly hoping that it is not true) is just another case of revenge. Well Itagaki is a pimp anyway, so he is most likely going to get off scott-free. He has got to be the biggest target because of his games (which most are very good) content.

  • brandontek

    Posted Nov 26, 2006 12:34 pm PT

    I say just leave it. Its rated M so they should F-Off.

  • BLACKNESS-NSH

    Posted Nov 26, 2006 12:28 pm PT

    Nice

  • typo

    Posted Nov 26, 2006 11:48 am PT

    lol, red tape

  • Hell-Fire21

    Posted Nov 26, 2006 11:45 am PT

    Yeah this...this headline needs to die already. And yeah everybody knows Tecmo uses sex to sell it's games, nobody is getting arrested, they didn't violate any policy, although it's cheap and talks to the britches and not the gamer, it works and they're making money. *coughpornindustrycough* SOOOOOOOO let it die already.

  • TBSKLFCmnd

    Posted Nov 26, 2006 11:12 am PT

    Come on peeeps whats wrong using sex to sell things? Nothing at all. I am getting sick and fed up with the ethinic and womens groups trying to get this world more PC (Politically Correct) and if people want to be racist or sexist let them and value their opinions. I am neither racist or sexist and I believe in freedom of speech.

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