Woman in Japan, 25, died by suicide after being verbally abused at work. Family receives S$1.3 million in compensation.

A female employee of Tokyo-based cosmetics manufacturer D-UP Corporation died in 2023 after losing consciousness from a suicide attempt, following alleged verbal harassment by the company’s president.

Her family filed a lawsuit against the company and its president, accusing them of causing her death.

The court recently ruled that the company and its president were responsible for her death and asked the president to resign.

The deceased's family also held a press conference on Sep. 11 to provide an update.

Being called a "stray dog"

According to local news outlet Asahi Shimbun, the deceased, Satomi, joined D-UP in April 2021.

Later that year, in December, she was summoned to a meeting with the president of the company, Mitsuru Sakai, during which he allegedly reprimanded her harshly for actions such as visiting a client without prior approval.

During the meeting, he reportedly called her a "stray dog", and the following day told her that "a weaker dog barks louder."

NHK reported that Satomi was diagnosed with depression in January 2022 and later took a leave of absence.

In August that year, she allegedly attempted suicide, which left her unconscious.

She eventually died in October 2023. She was 25 years old.

Deceased's parents filed a lawsuit

According to NHK, Satomi's parents had filed a lawsuit in July 2023, seeking damages from both Sakai and the company.

In May 2024, the Mita Labour Standards Inspection Office in Tokyo recognised a causal link between Sakai's verbal harassment, Satomi's depression and her death.

This led them to classify her death as a work-related accident, Asahi Shimbun reported.

The Tokyo District Court issued a decision on Sep. 9, 2025, stating that D-UP should admit that the harassment by its president led to the death of Satomi and the president, Sakai should resign.

NHK stated that it is rare for the court to call for the resignation of a company's president.

The bereaved family then announced in a press conference on Sep. 11 that Sakai and the company will pay 150 million Japanese yen (about S$1.3 million) in settlement money.

Asahi Shimbun added that the ruling also required D-UP to introduce measures to prevent similar incidents from happening again.

President resigned and company apologised

NHK reported that D-UP released a statement on its website, confirming that Sakai resigned on Wednesday (Sep. 10).

The company also apologised to Satomi and her family, and they pledged to improve their system to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future.

Measures that D-UP plans to take include revising harassment prevention rules, providing training for its management and employees, as well as setting up an external consultation hotline.

Satomi's sister responded that the apology came too late.

"Years have passed since my sister died, so an apology now doesn't fully sit right with me," she said. "The court result is good, but I wanted (the company and the president) to apologise while she was still alive."

According to NHK, Satomi's sister described her as hard-working and dedicated to the things she cared about. She added that she hopes for a society where people who try their best are protected and not bullied.

Helplines

If you wish to report any workplace harassment, you can report it to TAFEP here.

If you or someone you know are in mental distress, here are some hotlines you can call to seek help, advice, or just a listening ear:

SOS 24-hour Hotline: 1-767

Singapore Association for Mental Health: 1800-283-7019

SHECARES@SCWO: Call: 8001-01-4616 |Whatsapp: 6571 4400 (for targets of online harm)

National mindline.sg Hotline: 1771 (24 hours)

National mindline.sg WhatsApp: 66691771 (24 hours)

Top photos from FNN via Sin Chew Daily