Konami Digital Entertainment employee Yoko Sekiguchi is suing the company for what she calls "discrimination".
The 36-year-old Sekiguchi negotiated soccer team and foreign player licensing for Konami's Pro Evolution franchise. Last October, she took the company's maternity leave, returning to work this past April.
When she returned to work, she was demoted due to a "burden" caused by child rearing and work. Her monthly pay was also docked ¥200,000 (US$2,000). According to Sekiguchi, "This is discrimination aimed at female employees who chose to take maternity leave."
Sekiguchi has filed suit, seeking ¥33,000,000 (US$344,000) in damages. "I decided to take legal action," she says, "because fellow female employees are experiencing the same type of treatment."
育休からの復帰時に降格と減俸 女性社員がコナミを提訴 [Sankei via 未定なブログ]