Myaku-Myaku Cosplay and "Lower Abdomen Worship": Niigata Manager's Bizarre Harassment Sparks Outcry Over Lenient Punishment

A shocking sexual harassment incident involving a female manager in her 50s in Niigata Prefecture has come to light, causing a huge stir on social media. During a social gathering, she allegedly made a male subordinate wear a costume with bells and string, then instructed several other employees to "worship" his lower abdomen. The female manager in question received a reprimand.

According to reports, this unusual act of sexual harassment occurred at a workplace social event. The female manager, who was dressed in a costume of "Myaku-Myaku," the official character for Expo 2025 Osaka, allegedly made her male subordinate wear the peculiar outfit and then urged other surrounding employees to "worship" his lower abdomen. While some employees were initially reluctant, they reportedly complied after being prompted.

As news of this incident broke, numerous bewildered comments flooded X (formerly Twitter), such as "What exactly does 'worshipping the lower abdomen' even mean?" and "A costume with bells and strings, Myaku-Myaku cosplay... there's too much information, I can't comprehend it." Many users expressed strong astonishment at the bizarre nature of the acts and the fact that they were perpetrated by a manager.

Furthermore, questions have been raised regarding the Niigata Prefectural government's disciplinary action for this issue, which was merely a "reprimand" (oral warning)—the lightest possible penalty. Critical opinions quickly followed, including "The manager's awareness of harassment is completely nonexistent" and "This is clearly sexual harassment, and the punishment is too lenient." These comments highlight a perceived lack of understanding regarding workplace harassment. The bizarre situation involving the Myaku-Myaku character and the underlying lack of harassment awareness has prompted a call for societal re-evaluation.

The context

Myaku-Myaku is the official mascot for Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai. Its distinctive and somewhat unsettling design, with detached blue spheres representing cells and a red, amoeba-like body, has made it a polarizing figure. While some find it grotesque or bizarre, others embrace its unique, 'lovable monster' aesthetic. Its involvement in this incident adds an extra layer of strangeness and irony.

In Japan's public sector, disciplinary actions typically range from 'kunkai' (訓戒 - reprimand/verbal warning) as the lightest, followed by 'genkyū' (減給 - salary reduction), 'teishi' (停職 - suspension), and 'kaikoku' (免職 - dismissal) as the most severe. A 'kunkai' is essentially a warning recorded in one's personnel file but does not involve a salary cut or suspension. The public outcry reflects a perception that such a light punishment is inadequate for an incident involving a manager's egregious sexual harassment, especially given the bizarre and public nature of the act, and suggests a deep-seated issue with harassment awareness in the workplace.