JAPANESE REAL ESTATE FIRMS SEEK PROTECTION FOR FEMALE WORKERS

The real estate industry in Japan is struggling to bolster security measures after several cases where female employees became victims of physical assault or sexual harassment in confined spaces while showing customers around property, Nami Takata of Mainichi Shimbun reported late on July 12, 2020.

A shocking incident for the real estate industry occurred on April 25 when a 23-year-old female employee at a realtor in the eastern Japan city of Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, became the victim of robbery and attempted murder. At around 2 p.m., she attended to a 25-year-old unemployed man of no fixed address, and was stabbed with a knife from behind in the second apartment they visited that day. Although the employee fell unconscious and was in critical condition, and was robbed of her wallet and a vehicle for showing clients properties, her life was spared.

According to Kanagawa Prefectural Police, the arrested suspect stated, "I did it to steal money. I had no intention of renting property." He said that although he hesitated at the first apartment, he waited for the right opportunity and committed the crime at the second property.

Following the incident, a national association of real estate agencies consisting of around 6,100 companies sent out an email message to its members that warned "there has been a case where a female employee who was showing a customer around property was stabbed by a man who planned to rob her. Please review once more your company rules for guiding customers around property."